From the principal's desk: Oliver Janes, CBSO

Principal clarinettist with the CBSO, Oli Janes talks about the elegies, raucous dances and virtuoso fireworks of Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, which the orchestra performs in April.

The City of Birmingham Symphony’s leader talks about leading Mozart’s last Violin Concerto – a work full of sunshine, clarity and transparency. 

The sought-after current music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra will adopt this new role in Berlin from the 2026–27 season.

Kazuki Yamada, Claire Booth and the Paraorchestra were among the winners announced on Thursday, which also honoured contemporary music record label NMC and Belfast’s Open Arts Community Choir.

Kazuki Yamada’s infectious ebullience has rubbed off in a major way on the Birmingham orchestra, and this season they tackle a fleet of big symphonies: Bruckner’s, Mahler’s and Beethoven’s Ninths.

The chief conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra discusses his love and fascination for Elgar’s deeply personal work – and his experiences performing it for the first time.