Performer: Rodrick Dixon

The first instalment of Covent Garden's new Ring is excellent all round from orchestra and voices, with Barrie Kosky providing plenty of ideas to tease us as to how the cycle will continue. 

Artistic advisor James Conlon presents a triptych of works by Adolphus Hailstork, Alvin Singleton and Joel Thompson next to an edgy, ironic reading of Shostakovich's Tenth Symphony.

An admirable but disjointed performance of Beethoven's sacred choral work did not benefit from an extratextual art installation.