Outstanding new songs from Leeds Lieder+

There is usually a good reason why operas which lie unperformed for many years do so – some flaw in the plotting, characters who fail to interest an audience, or musical langueurs. It was therefore with somewhat low expectations that I went to Hampstead Garden Opera’s production of Vaughan Williams’ Hugh the Drover. Imagine my surprise and delight.

The Berliner Philharmoniker’s much-anticipated return to Salzburg gets off to an impressive musical start. Kirill Serebrennikov’s staging raises numerous questions, but answers few of them. 

Maxim Emelyanychev, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus and a luxury cast of soloists enchant in a concert performance of The Magic Flute at the Edinburgh International Festival.

Three aspects of fate were on display in this intriguing combination of the new, the less familiar and the unashamedly popular given by the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra under its chief conductor.

Detlev Glanert's homage to Kafka highlights an evening of stellar sounds and talent, including Johan Dalene playing Sibelius.