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Classical Music

Best concerts and opera in September

By Claudia Pritchard on 20/8/2023

London's finest orchestras launch their 2023/234 seasons in style, and in the opera house there is a rush of great classics

Prom 61: Chineke! perform Beethoven

Europe's first majority Black and ethnically diverse ensemble plays Beethoven's exuberant Symphony No 4, but the programme is packed with other short, interesting pieces, including works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, a composer championed by the orchestra, plus Valerie Coleman's appealing Seven O'Clock Shout. Aaron Azunda Akugbo is the soloist in Haydn's Trumpet Concerto. A good one for youngsters.

WHEN

Friday 1 September, 7:30pm

WHERE

Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP; and on BBC Sounds

Proms 62 and 63: Aurora/The Rite by Heart

If you only go to one Prom this year, make it one of the two performances by Aurora Orchestra of Stravinsky's mould-breaking The Rite of Spring, played from memory. At any time, this is a thrilling piece to see and hear live, but daringly played without sheet music this performance will be quite breathtaking. In the first half, get to know to the piece with conductor Nicholas Collin, before the bareback ride in the second half. Oh, and take the kids…

WHEN

Saturday 2 September, 3pm and 7:30pm

WHERE

Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP; and on BBC Sounds

Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, Barbican

In what promises to be a moving event, the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra returns to London with a programme of music by Ukrainian composers and a triumphant, heroic symphony by Beethoven. Formed by conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson in 2022, the orchestra is made up of refugees, Ukrainian members of European orchestras and top musicians from across Ukraine, all committed to defending the nation’s cultural legacy. They will play Yevhen Stankovych’s Second Violin Concerto, with virtuoso violinist Valeriy Sokolov, Myroslav Skoryk’s Melody, described as ‘the spiritual hymn of Ukraine’ and Beethoven’s epic Eroica Symphony.

WHEN

Sunday 3 September, 2pm (note early start)

WHERE

Barbican Hall, Silk Street, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS

Das Rheingold, Royal Opera House

First opera in an exciting new Ring Cycle staged by Barrie Kosky with Sir Antonio Pappano conducting. When mystical treasure is stolen, the full wrath of the gods is brought to bear. Cast includes Christopher Maltman, Christopher Purves, Sean Panikkar, Marina Prudenskaya and Kiandra Howarth. Kosky promises that the new Wagner cycle will combine traditional and relatable elements.

WHEN

Monday 11 – Friday 29 September. Seven performances, start times vary. Running time 2hr 20min with no interval

WHERE

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

Barbara Hannigan conducts concerts that open the LSO season. Photo: Mark Allan

London Symphony Orchestra 2023/24 season launch

It takes more than the departure of music director Sir Simon Rattle to stop the London Symphony Orchestra in its tracks. While his six years in charge were thrilling and innovative, with his move to Munich the orchestra hardly breaks step, as the exciting conductor and singer Barbara Hannigan (pictured) launches the LSO with a series of concerts

WHEN

Thursday 14 – Thursday 21 September. Four performances, start times vary

WHERE

Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS

La Forza del Destino, Royal Opera House

In Verdi's action-packed opera, Leonora and Don Alvaro are parted by a tragic accident, then war brings together Alvaro and Leonora's estranged brother, reawakening past torments. Christof Loy's clear and vivid production returns with a new cast including the brilliant American-Canadian soprano Sandra Radvanovsky (pictured).

WHEN

Tuesday 19 September – Monday 2 October. Six performances, times vary. Running time 3hr 55min including two intervals

WHERE

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

Verdi's Requiem, Royal Festival Hall

With its terrifying Dies Irae and consoling In Paradisum, Verdi's Requiem is the most operatic of settings. In this starry performance conducted by the charismatic Santtu-Matias Rouveli, the Philharmonia is joined by soloists including soprano Natalya Romaniw (pictured) and the Philharmonia Chorus.

WHEN

Thursday 21 September, 7:30pm. Running time 1hr 30min, with no interval

WHERE

Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX

Peter Grimes, English National Opera 2023

English National Opera's greatest-hits season opens with a 2009 production of Benjamin Britten's powerful and timeless opera about isolation and the power of the mob. Based on George Crabbe's poem The Borough (1810) and premiered in 1945, Peter Grimes tells the story of a clumsy loner who is persecuted by his townspeople. Great drama, great music.

WHEN

Thursday 21 September – Wednesday 11 October. Eight performances, start times vary. Running time 3hr 15min, with two intervals

WHERE

English National Opera, London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4ES

Picture a day like this, Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House

Collaborations between composer George Benjamin and writer Martin Crimp are always events to watch, and here their modern fable has a cast of rising stars, including Persian-Canadian counter-tenor Cameron Shahbazi (photo: Kirini-Kopcke). The death of her child begins a woman’s search for one genuinely happy person. But when every encounter ends in disappointment, she turns finally to the mysterious owner of a magnificent garden…

WHEN

Friday 22 September – Tuesday 10 October. 12 performances, start times vary. Running time 1hr 15min with no interval

WHERE

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

L'Elisir d'Amore, Royal Opera House

When love doesn't go your way, who doesn't fall back on a magic potion? Not you? Well, step into the madcap world of Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti and his Elixir of Love, for a fun-filled evening of giddying music. Singers in this welcome revival of Laurent Pelly's spirited production include Bryn Terfel as wheeler-dealer Dr Dulcamara.

WHEN

Friday 22 September – Tuesday 10 October. Six performances, start times vary. Running time 3hr including one interval

WHERE

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

In Too Deep, Multi-Story Orchestra

Free concert by the endlessly entertaining and innovative Multi-Story Orchestra. Bring the kids and gather round for In Too Deep, developed by The Multi-Story Orchestra, with composer Kate Whitley. Stroll among the musicians in the open space of the Royal Festival Hall, before they coalesce for this stimulating new work.

WHEN

Sunday 24 September, 10.30am and 1pm

WHERE

Clore Ballroom, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX

London Philharmonic Orchestra plays Tchaikkovksy, Royal Festival hall

London Philharmonic Orchestra plays Tchaikovsky, Royal Festival hall

A terrific concert by the LPO under music director Edward Gardner. Beethoven's bracing overture Egmont is followed by the Bartók Violin Concerto, with the thrilling soloist Christian Tetzlaff. In the second half, the surging Symphony No 4 by Tchaikovsky. No school tomorrow… take the kids; they will be on the edge of their seats.

WHEN

Saturday 30 September, 7:30pm. Running time 2hr 10min, including one interval

WHERE

Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX