Venue: Auditorio Nacional de Música, Madrid

The latest concert by the Spanish National Orchestra was a fascinating opportunity to explore the contrast between Wagner and Stravinsky.

The Collegium Vocale Gent, in the hands of Philippe Herreweghe, came and conquered Madrid with a memorable performance of Bach's St John Passion.

Interesting rediscovery of Veracini's first opera, composed for mythical castrati Senesino and Farinelly, and brought to life again by Fabio Biondi and Europa Galante.

Ton Koopman's distinctively lively tempi, coupled with a contagious delight to be making music, has a fairly magnetic effect when conducting Bach's Mass in B minor.

Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Symphony bring Beethoven and Wagner to Madrid and fill the hall with vitality.

Natalia Gutman proposes an interesting reading of Bach's Cello Suites, but slips in the second half.

Giovanni Antonini and the Baroque Ensemble of the Orquesta Nacional de España perform Boccherini's "La Casa del Diavolo" on Hallowe'en night.

Leonidas Kavakos and Yuja Wang play all three of Brahms' sonatas for violin and piano in one evening, without ever looking at each other. They did not seem to need to.