Francisco Coll: A Portrait album review – assured collection charts the rise of a compelling voice
Coll is one of Europe’s most distinctive composers, and the Hague-based ensemble’s virtuosity showcases the startling fertility of his imagination
Twilight: Schumann Songs album review – treasures galore from vivid and sensitive Ian Bostridge
Tenor Ian Bostridge brings wonderful clarity and sensitivity to this collection that includes all of Schumann’s greatest song-cycles
The Makropulos Affair review – immaculately paced and gripping opera storytelling
Olivia Fuchs’ production of Janáček’s opera is a remarkable achievement, with Orla Boylan’s riveting performance at its heart. In the pit, Martyn Brabbins is superb
Olivier Latry review – Notre Dame’s organist brings his dancing feet to Bath’s Bachfest
Pairing works by three pillars of the French classical baroque with the great German composer, Latry’s glorious playing finished with dazzling improvisation
Der Ring des Nibelungen review – less is more in Regents Opera’s whittled-down Wagner
With a handful of musicians playing a skilfully reduced score and a minimal staging by Caroline Staunton, this Ring cycle is an intense and involving experience
Klangforum Wien review – Vienna focus brings lucid and colour-filled Pierrot Lunaire
Schoenberg’s revolutionary work powered the new-music ensemble’s second Wigmore programme, based around 20th-century modernism
Commemorating Shostakovich review – vivid and nervy chamber music with Kissin a sensitive voice
Evgeny Kissin, Gidon Kremer, Maxim Rysanov, Giedrė Dirvanauskaitė, and Alexander Roslavets collaborated in a thoughtful and powerful programme of Shostakovich’s chamber music
Figure: Side By Side review – spikily stylish baroque and contemporary music
Stone Nest, LondonVivaldi and Handel shadow-boxed with Caroline Shaw and Joanna Ward in this ambitious, punchy concert
Ordo Virtutum review – BBC Singers sound heavenly in MacMillan premiere
Anchored by drumbeats, the Soul soared skywards in James MacMillan’s timeless choral allegory, exquisitely sung
Mary, Queen of Scots review – trouser suits and relentless tension in Musgrave’s bleak opera
Thea Musgrave’s 1977 account of the persecuted queen has been reimagined in terms of 20th century sectarianism in Stewart Laing’s production. It is sung and acted with blazing conviction by English National Opera
The week in classical: Festen; Das Rheingold review – a dark, jubilant, five-star Turnage triumph
Daring, lyrical and brilliantly achieved, Mark-Anthony Turnage’s new opera is his best work yet. Plus, knockout Wagner on a shoestring
Park Jiha: All Living Things review – effortlessly straddles ambient and modern classical
The Korean composer’s fourth album calls to mind Björk, Philip Glass and more as traditional instruments and electronic touches evoke the rhythms of life
Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius album review – thoughtful and acutely sensitive to tiniest nuances
This is a very distinguished addition to the pantheon of Gerontius recordings, and Christine Rice is as good an Angel as any on disc since Janet Baker
Lines of Life: Schubert & Kurtág album review – Benjamin Appl’s wonderful tribute to extraordinary composer
Works by Schubert and Brahms are interwoven with 13 of composer’s own songs in this beautifully realised collection
The Magic Flute review – humour, colour and plenty of drama in Opera North’s kooky take
A lively revival of James Brining’s occasionally enigmatic staging sees Soraya Mafi make an exceptional role debut as a tenacious and principled Pamina