Best Classical Music and Opera 2019

By Claudia Pritchard on 18/12/2019

English National Opera got back on its feet, the Proms went from strength to strength, the Royal Opera House season grew and grew, and London prepared for a new arrival – Edward Gardner was announced as the new conductor at the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Beethoven 250

A year-long celebration of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven in 1770. Political turmoil, social unrest ... the world into which Beethoven was born in 1770 may seem remote, but today's audiences recognise many of the emotions and much of the background that run through his vast output

WHEN

14 Sep 2019 – 31 Dec 2020, events over 15 months, times vary

WHERE

Venues throughout London

34th Christmas Festival, St John's Smith Square

Christmas music performed by the best London and visiting choirs and orchestras, in Westminster's atmospheric Georgian venue (pictured). The annual festival includes Carols by Candlelight (14 Dec), Bach's mighty Christmas Oratorio (22 Dec) and Handel's Messiah (23 Dec).

WHEN

Sun 8 Dec to Mon 23 Dec; 17 concerts, times vary

WHERE

St John's Smith Square, Smith Square, Westminster SW1P 3HA

City of London Sinfonia concerts

Celebrating the words of TS Eliot and music of Benjamin Britten, an immersive concert at Southwark Cathedral. Then some new tales for the Arabian Nights, with Ruth Padel, DBC Pierre and others and Rimsky-Korsakov's explosive score, Scheherazade.

WHEN

Wed 20 Nov, 7:30PM; Sun 1 Dec, 3PM

WHERE

Southwark Cathedral; Queen Elizabeth Hall

Handel's Messiah is an essential element of Christmas

Messiah: London Christmas performances of Handel's oratorio

It wouldn't be Christmas without Handel's great oratorio Messiah, a masterwork of story-telling in moving aria and grand choruses. Choose from 10 outstanding performances in churches and concert halls across the capital.

WHEN

Throughout December

WHERE

Various locations

Chineke! orchestra plays at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 7 Nov, 23 Feb and 12 May 2020

Classical Season 2019/20, Southbank Centre

Music across the centuries will ring out at Southbank Centre in its new classical season from September 2019 to July 2020, with top international artists, favourite London musicians, including Chineke! Orchestra (pictured) and works old and new

WHEN

23 Sep 2019 – 07 Jun 2020, 10-month season of concerts; times vary

WHERE

Southbank Centre
Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX

Russian-born Vladimir Jurowski conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: Chris Christodoulou

Best Russian music: London concerts that dazzle

For drama, passion and big orchestral sounds there is no beating Russian composers, conductors and players. Here are the Russian experts to catch in London, among them London Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Vladimir Jurowski (pictured).

WHEN

September to July

WHERE

Various locations

Charismatic conductor Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra's Barbican residency in November. Photo: Mark Allen

Barbican Classical Music 2019/20

A wave of visiting world-class orchestras, celebrations for a big Beethoven year, and many exciting new commissions are highlights of the packed classical music season 2019/20 at the Barbican. Big draws include the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel (pictured)

WHEN

14 Sep 2019 – 31 May 2020, nine-month season of concerts, talks and cross-genre events

WHERE

Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

Venus Unwrapped, Kings Place

A year-long celebration of music written and, often, performed by women, from the Italian renaissance to the present day, with scores of events ahead.

WHEN

10 Jan 2019 – 31 Dec 2019, events all year; times vary

WHERE

Kings Place
90 York Way, London, N1 9AG

Holland Park is alive with music every summer. Photo: Robert Workman

Opera Holland Park 2019: classics and rarities

It was a bumper year for London's own country house opera, with Tchaikovsky and Verdi particularly well sung. The capital's opera-lovers booked for each of the four new productions, and were thrilled by each in different ways

WHEN

June to August 2019

WHERE

Opera Holland Park
Stable Yard, Holland Park, London , W8 6LU

The BBC Proms is the biggest music festival in the world. Photo: Chris Christodoulou

BBC Proms 2019: the top artists and works

World-class orchestras and soloists played night after night at the Royal Albert Hall where the Promenaders came face to face with their favourite artists.

WHEN

July to September

WHERE

Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington SW7 2AP

Aschenbach (Mark Padmore) is taken to the Venice Lido by a sinister gondolier (Gerald Finley) in Death in Venice at the Royal Opera House. Photo: Catherine Ashmore

Death in Venice, Royal Opera House review ★★★★★

Outstanding production of Benjamin Britten's opera, with Mark Padmore as an ageing writer falling for a beautiful young dancer in Venice. Gerald Finley is his sinister guide, with Tim Mead as an interfering god...

WHEN

21 Nov 2019 – 06 Dec 2019, five performances

WHERE

Royal Opera House
Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD

Best Classical Music and Opera 2019

English National Opera got back on its feet, the Proms went from strength to strength, the Royal Opera House season grew and grew, and London prepared for a new arrival – Edward Gardner was announced as the new conductor at the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Beethoven 250

34th Christmas Festival, St John's Smith Square

City of London Sinfonia concerts

Messiah: London Christmas performances of Handel's oratorio

Classical Season 2019/20, Southbank Centre

Best Russian music: London concerts that dazzle

Barbican Classical Music 2019/20

Venus Unwrapped, Kings Place

Opera Holland Park 2019: classics and rarities

BBC Proms 2019: the top artists and works

Death in Venice, Royal Opera House review ★★★★★

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Vladimir Jurowski

London Symphony Orchestra

Royal Opera House

English National Opera

Verdi

Puccini

Tchaikovsky

Handel

Rossini

Britten

BBC Proms on Television: weekend screen musical highlights

Opera at Covent Garden: all the shows this season

Royal Opera House Autumn Highlights

Ashley Riches interview: Meet the quick-change bass-baritone

Soprano Natalya Romaniw interview: 'My mum liked the chorus best!'

Bryn Terfel interview: 'I have broken my own rule'