Stephen Farr opens Westminster Abbey's Summer Organ Festival 2012

Judith Weir's dramatic new choral work receives a convincing world première from David Hill and the BBC Singers at Southwark Cathedral. 

Beethoven may have been the main catch of the day for some but Sibelius, Leifs and Hillborg will have netted many new admirers thanks to Sakari Oramo.

The enormous organ of the Royal Albert Hall had a busy Sunday. In the evening Prom, it was due to add even more volume to Havergal Brian’s monumental ‘Gothic’ Symphony, whilst during the afternoon it was given to the charge of Stephen Farr, one of the UK’s most compelling organ recitalists, for a solo recital.

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.