Classical Music 2018: the best orchestras, soloists and concerts

By Claudia Pritchard on 20/12/2017

Bernstein, Stravinsky and Shostakovich for musical thrills and spills, Haydn, Bach and Grieg for poetry and inspiration: take your pick in 2018

Katia and Marielle Labèque give the first performance of Bryce Dessner's Concerto for Two Pianos. Photograph: Brigitte Lacombe

Rachmaninov Symphony No 3, Royal Festival Hall

Concertos for two pianos are rare and exotic creatures so don't miss the chance to hear the world premiere of an entirely new one, performed by the dynamic Labeque sisters, plus a powerful Rachmaninov symphony.

WHEN

On 13 Apr 2018, 7:30 PM – 9:45 PM

Christian Tetzlaff plays an all-Schubert concert. Photo: Giorgia Bertazzi

Christian Tetzlaff, Wigmore Hall

The violinist Christian Tetzlaff is one of Culture Whisper's favourite artists. Hear him in an all-Schubert programme in February, with his cellist sister Tanja, and then in June playing music by the exciting young composer Jörg Widmann.

WHEN

11 Feb 2018 – 10 Jun 2018, Two concerts

WHERE

Wigmore Hall
36 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2BP

Sir Simon Rattle has transformed the London Symphony Orchestra overnight. Photo: Tristram Kenton

Mahler 9, Rattle and the LSO, Barbican

Another big landmark in the debut year as music director of the London Symphony Orchestra for Sir Simon Rattle. Here he conducts the mighty symphony that Mahler never even heard himself in his own lifetime.

WHEN

19 Apr 2018 – 26 Apr 2018, two performances of the same programme

WHERE

Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

German-born Jörg Widmann writes, performs and talks about music in an inspiring way. Photo: Marco Borggreve

Jörg Widmann Season, Wigmore Hall

Born in Germany, a clarinettist from the age of seven, Jörg Widmann is now a composer both for his own instrument and all others, and a brilliant speaker on music. Get to know him better at the Wigmore Hall when he takes up a residency.

WHEN

04 Jan 2018 – 20 Jul 2018, Nine events; times vary

WHERE

Wigmore Hall
36 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2BP

Gustavo Dudamel is the LA Phil's dynamic music director. Photo: Mark Allan

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Barbican

The energetic conductor Gustavo Dudamel brings his Los Angeles Philharmonic to London for three brilliant concerts on consecutive nights. Catch the lot to get to know this amazing ensemble inside out. Featuring Bernstein in his centenary year.

WHEN

02 May 2018 – 04 May 2018, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM

WHERE

Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

The Heath Quartet is one of the sought-after ensembles playing at Wigmore Hall. Photo: Simon Way

Haydn String Quartets, Wigmore Hall

As well as more than 100 symphonies, Haydn wrote 68 quartets. At London's premier chamber music venue, Wigmore Hall, a distinguished line-up of ensembles is exploring these captivating, jewel-like works.

WHEN

14 Jan 2018 – 25 Jul 2018, 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM

WHERE

Wigmore Hall
36 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2BP

Most Proms take place in the Royal Albert Hall. Photo: Chris Christodoulou

BBC Proms 2018, Royal Albert Hall

The Proms programme will be announced in April but we can already be sure of some features. Anniversaries are often marked in the eight-week festival of live music, so listen out for lots of Leonard Bernstein, the centenary of whose birth falls in 2018, plus all your favourite composers and artists.

WHEN

13 Jul 2018 – 08 Sep 2018, 100-plus events, times vary

WHERE

Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP

John Butt conducts the Dunedin Consort in Bach's St Matthew Passion

Bach's St Matthew Passion, Wigmore Hall

Lovers of choral music generally, and Bach in particular, never miss a performance of the St Matthew Passion. Now, here is one on a scale that will bring out the drama of the piece: there is only one voice per part, making the characters very real indeed.

WHEN

On 25 Mar 2018, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

WHERE

Wigmore Hall
36 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2BP

Classical Music 2018: the best orchestras, soloists and concerts

Bernstein, Stravinsky and Shostakovich for musical thrills and spills, Haydn, Bach and Grieg for poetry and inspiration: take your pick in 2018

Rachmaninov Symphony No 3, Royal Festival Hall

Christian Tetzlaff, Wigmore Hall

Mahler 9, Rattle and the LSO, Barbican

Jörg Widmann Season, Wigmore Hall

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Barbican

Haydn String Quartets, Wigmore Hall

BBC Proms 2018, Royal Albert Hall

Bach's St Matthew Passion, Wigmore Hall

London Symphony Orchestra

Simon Rattle

Barbican

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Vladimir Jurowski

Wagner

Stravinsky

Tchaikovsky

Rachmaninov

Bach

Bernstein

Mahler

BBC Proms

Vladimir Jurowski: champion of the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Best Opera 2018: divas, dramas and dates for your diary

London Symphony Orchestra 2017/18: Concerts to book now

Get the best from the BBC Proms 2018 in five tuneful steps

Opera Holland Park 2018: book now for the best seats

Glyndebourne Festival Opera 2018