Philharmonia/ Schwarz/ Ólafsson review – a masterclass in pianissimo
Marking György Kurtág’s 100th birthday, Elena Schwarz and Víkingur Ólafsson led a programme of hushed intensity and fleeting ferocity
LSO/ Wang/ Peltokoski review – Yuja Wang’s ferocious Rautavaara meets Peltokoski’s passionate Wagner
The pianist was electrifying in Rautavaara’s first concerto, while the young Finn conducted a condensed Ring with clever, slow-burn pacing
Sinfonia Cymru / Laura van de Heijden review – quiet authority and effortless grace inspire
The cellist moved up a gear during Dobrinka Tabakova’s concerto, as the fiery writing showed her at her virtuosic best
RPO/Edusei/Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha review – the makings of a classic Strauss
South African soprano Rangwanasha proved she is the real deal in a performance of Strauss’s Four Last Songs that’s let down by the RPO’s oddly pinched, poorly tuned backing
The Hallé Presents … Jonny Greenwood review – everything in its right place, almost
The Radiohead guitarist joined the orchestra for the premiere of his rather formless Violin Concerto – but other repertoire was gripping, and showed off a world-class string section
Harnoncourt: Mendelssohn, Wagner, Schumann album review – revelatory readings from the late revolutionary
This 1999 live recording captures the late conductor’s radical ear in bracing Mendelssohn, gossamer Wagner and a luminous Liebestod – from Violeta Urmana
Pekka Kuusisto: Willows album review – luminous, inventive and penetrating
The Finnish violinist-conductor strips back The Lark Ascending to revelatory effect in an album that moves from searing grief to radiant, folk-infused transcendence with Sam Amidon
Bath BachFest review – joyous and mesmerising music making
The festival’s new artistic director Adrian Brendel presided over – and was a key part of – a day of virtuosic and adventurous performances
BBC Total Immersion: Icelandic Chill review – ambience, flowerpots and drones in varied day of new music
This celebration of Iceland’s outsize musical talents was a mixed bag, but highlights such as Bára Gísladóttir’s double bass concerto and Daníel Bjarnason’s I Want to Be Alive revealed singular and innovative voices
Sacconi Quartet review – new Freya Waley-Cohen work reveals ensemble at their finest
Marking 25 years since their formation, Dances, Songs & Hymns for Friendship was informed by the composer’s observations of the four musicians both in and out of rehearsal
Tamara Stefanovich review – inspired and insightful programme celebrates Kurtág at 100
The pianist’s recital was a masterful essay in sound where the Hungarian composer’s short piano works were woven into and out of Debussy, Liszt and Bach
HK Gruber: Short Stories from the Vienna Woods album review – still quirky after all these years
This collection of the 83-year-old composer’s larger-scale works highlights his inventive and restless writing
Johann Ludwig Bach: The Leipzig Cantatas album review – this distant cousin’s music is a remarkable discovery
This is the premiere recording of sacred cantatas by JL Bach: works preserved due to his distant cousin, JS Bach, copying them for performance. Conductor Johanna Soller brings them to sensitive and vivid life
Saul review – Purves didn’t just chew the scenery, he swallowed it whole
The London Handel festival opened with Arcangelo’s agile and elegant performance of the operatic oratorio. Christopher Purves dominated as the king, as David, Hugh Cutting’s voice was liquid honey
Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny review – big and brash staging for Brecht and Weill’s whisky-soaked dystopia
Jamie Manton’s new production for English National Opera is sparky and substantial. Danielle de Niese brings star quality to tarty Jenny, and the chorus are consistently superb