Performer: Christian Elsner

The radio symphony orchestras based in the individual federal states are some of Germany's musical jewels. Here, Andrés Orozco-Estrada and his Frankfurt musicians together with tenor Christian Elsner demonstrate their mettle.

Debussy's early cantata is played with verve by NOSPR but exposes its composer's inexperience; Mansurian's memorial to genocide shows off the exceptional musicianship of the RIAS Kammerchor.

In a varied programme at Lucerne’s 2018 Easter Festival, Mariss Jansons conducted the BRSO and Choir in works by Stravinsky, Hummel and Beethoven.

Bernard Haitink’s musical insight and interpretative genius continues to mature like a vintage Château Pétrus.

If you are going to hear any performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in the next decade, it should be from Sir Simon Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker. 

A fairly conventional version of Beethoven's Fidelio at the Grand Théâtre in Geneva plays it safe and ultimately succeeds.