Instrument: Speaker

Two rarely performed works are showcased by the Staatskapelle under Daniel Barenboim.

Vladimir Jurowski is fond of grand statements, and sometimes off-the-wall programming – genius when it works, baffling when it doesn’t. 

Shakespeare songs turned out to be more of a Shakespeare feast starring Antonio Pappano, Ian Bostridge and the exceptional Eve Best.

Detlev Glanert's first religious composition, a staggering Requiem for solo voices, two choirs and orchestra, pits the demonic against the angelic, and is worthy of the genius it celebrates.

An insightful and engaging talk by Alfred Brendel on Liszt's B minor Sonata was followed by an intelligent and colourful performance by pianist Dénes Varjon.

In an engrossing all-Heine song and poetry recital, baritone Florian Boesch and actor Thomas Quasthoff probed the amorous Sorrows of Young Heinrich. 

Russian piano virtuoso Evgeny Kissen taps his Yiddish roots for an engaging concert of solo piano works by lesser-known Jewish composers and a classic Yiddish poetry recital.