Classical music & opera
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His ego knew no bounds … but nor did his operas that feature camels, helicopters and giant pencil sharpeners. As his epic Donnerstag aus Licht comes to the UK for the first time in 34 years, we separate the cult from the culture of Karlheinz Stockhausen -
4 out of 5 stars.
Freshly announced as the orchestra’s next principal conductor, the Finn directed a sizzling and sensual programme of Adams and Stravinsky
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3 out of 5 stars.
Glyndebourne The Damnation of Faust – seductive, beguiling and sinister
3 out of 5 stars.The new Glyndebourne season opens with a striking, albeit nihilistic and anti-Romantic staging by Richard Jones of Berlioz’s dramatic legend
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5 out of 5 stars.
Barbican Sound Unbound – inclusive and joyous festival
5 out of 5 stars.With around 150 concerts spread across 19 venues, highlights at this two-day free music festival included countertenor John Holiday, saxophonist Jess Gillam and Purcell as a 21st-century popstar -
Composers have been recycling sounds since music began. Ahead of the Barbican’s Sound Unbound festival three musicians here share their favourite reboots
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4 out of 5 stars.
Her voice is the calm at the centre of a storm of music by Wagner and Strauss in Davidsen’s worth-the-wait album -
The RLPO concludes its magnificent Vaughan Williams symphony cycle. Plus, two masses for double choir -
4 out of 5 stars.
Areni Agbabian: Bloom review – ethereal contralto explorer
4 out of 5 stars.Surrounded by muted piano, gongs and brushed drums, Agbabian’s experimental songs are creepy but tuneful and beguiling -
4 out of 5 stars.
Ensemble Diderot: The London and Paris albums review – ebullient Enlightenment trios with brio
4 out of 5 stars.The baroque music of the two cities is sparklingly realised by Ensemble Diderot, but Paris wins in terms of innovation
People
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The Icelandic musician’s fresh approach to Bach has won him rave reviews and a record of the year award. Why is he now mixing the baroque composer with electronic music? -
One of the great sopranos of her generation who was particularly associated with Benjamin Britten -
They liked his Rachmaninov, struggled with his Prokofiev, then let him have it during Ravel. The musician relives his toughest audiences, from swarms of insects to highly discerning bats -
The composer’s colourful life is the focus of an epic tribute
You may have missed
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He rubbed shoulders with Stravinsky and dreamed up beautiful film scores in his sleep. So why don’t we know more about Chaplin’s love affair with song? -
Injuries from 2012 rehearsal mean musician suffers pain and nausea when there is noise -
In 1979, a cult book by Douglas Hofstadter explored consciousness via a mathematical idea found in art and music. Now, in the AI revolution, that concept could solve a vital question -
You need more than a good voice to sing the countertenor role of the sun-worshipping Egyptian leader. But it’s changed my life
Guides
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Tom Service introduces 50 composers from the contemporary classical music scene -
In the last of his series, Tim Ashley selects five great works that explore what happens when they didn’t live happily ever after -
Our series ends in Berlin, the classical music lover’s dream destination, with Berg, Busoni, Bowie and Bernstein. -
Tom Service's survey of the 50 symphonies that changed classical music
Most viewed
Royal Opera House Andrea Chénier – a singers' evening that won't start a revolution
3 out of 5 stars.