Performer: Kühn Children's Choir

Under the baton of Semyon Bychkov, the Czech Philharmonic and a sprawling supporting cast lead listeners up a stairway to heaven. 

The National Theater opens the season with Rodion Shchedrin's searing version of Lolita, with spectacularly disturbing results.

A political makeover of Puccini's verismo classic backfires.