Venue: Barbican Centre, London

Janine Jansen's interpretation of Sibelius' Violin Concerto is a triumph, followed by a powerful reading of Prokofiev's Sixth by Noseda – a thrilling concert to leave the heart racing.

Elizabeth Watts is the soloist in the UK premiere of Ryan Wigglesworth's song cycle Till Dawning, and this composer also unveils his take on another's Fifth Symphony.

“Peace Shall Defeat War” is the apposite subtitle of the finale to Boris Lyatoshynsky's Third Symphony, a work championed by Kirill Karabits in a concert featuring his fellow Ukrainian Anna Fedorova playing Rachmaninov. 

Amanda Majeski reprises her peerless Kátya, but Katarina Dalayman's flint-like characterisation as Kabanicha strikes the most sparks.

Contemplation and reflection should ideally form a counterpoint to jollity and merry-making in the festive season: an object-lesson from Sir Simon Rattle and his supporting forces.

Sir Simon Rattle's “Stravinsky Journey” threads a string of miniatures to persuade the audience that there's more to Stravinsky than his three early Ballets Russes hits. 

Schubert knew all about existentialism long before the term was coined. It is there in his music and most poignantly so in Winterreise. Allan Clayton treads movingly in the composer's path.

John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London give a masterclass in musical perfection in works by Walton, Ravel, Gershwin and Dutilleux.