Discipline and power from the Sinfónica Juvenil de Caracas: El Sistema at La Scala

Among the most memorable and exciting evenings of my concert-going experience have been some excellent performances by student orchestras. You would think there is a trade-off for this sort of experience and that often is the case: in exchange for that last degree of technical polish you’re recompensed with performances often more thrilling than those by their professional peers.

Serious music ill-matched by filmic limitations as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra tackles Messiaen’s epic “symphony” as part of the Southbank’s cross-genre festival. 

The road to immersion is paved with modish deflections as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment performs 20th-century English string music. 

Giving their 27th performance of the oratorio, the London Symphony Chorus excel as angelic angels and demonic demons. 

As gifts to the Philarmonia's 80th birthday season, Nicola Benedetti gives a barnstorming account of Elgar's Violin Concerto before Cristian Mӑcelaru gets emotionally drained by La Mer.

The Seattle Symphony offers an enchanting evening immersed in the joy and brilliance of both the young and the mature genius of Felix Mendelssohn.