Comfort in Chaos, Songs of the Seasons, Elemental and The Sound of Film: Jazz in Hollywood are the themes of four very attractive concerts in this year's lively Classical Vauxhall. The long weekend music festival, based at the beautiful St Mark's Church, Kennington, is in its fourth year, and has carved out a reputation for its freshness, warmth and innovative programming.
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Having opened on 25 February with Handel's Giulio Cesare, Britain's busiest touring opera company returns with two spectacles: Donizetti's drama of vendetta and revenge, Lucrezia Borgia (Fri 3 March), and Verdi's comic Il Viaggio a Reims (Sat 4 March), set in a spa town where fashionable society is turned upside down by travelling players.
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Life inside a wolf's tummy turns out to be spacious and companionable, as mouse discovers when he is swallowed up and meets an earlier dinner, a duck. Aurora Orchestra perform Martin Suckling's delightful musical version of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen's children's book. Four- to eight-year-olds get to know the instruments of the orchestra with the help of these new animal friends.
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The recital takes its name from the witty cabaret song by Benjamin Britten which closes the programme devoted to love. Songs from that outstanding communicator, baritone Roderick Williams, include settings by Fanny Mendelssohn, Clara Schumann and Sally Beamish, with, in the first half, Robert Schumann's song cycle Dichterliebe, which traces the highs and lows of passion.
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The great tenor aria 'Nessun dorma' is known way beyond the walls of the opera house, and here is a chance to hear that anthem in its original place. In Puccini's opera Turandot, suitor Calaf defies a tyrannical princess and wins her heart by putting his life in her hands. The action takes place in China, vividly suggested on stage in Andrei Serban's production, conducted at most performances by that master of Italian opera, Sir Antonio Pappano.
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The captivating voice of the American counter-tenor Anthony Roth Costanzo has become synonymous with Philip Glass's opera Akhnaten. Already a favourite with English National Opera audiences, it makes a welcome return, and is sure to pick up new fans. The singer portrays the Egyptian pharaoh with otherworldly skill in an opera where ancient languages come to life.
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The brilliant young cellist is as at home in new and rarely performed music as in established pieces. In this recital, he plays music by JS Bach and Benjamin Britten, and also by the rising composers of today: Gwilym Simcock and Edmund Finnis. Plus, works by 20th-century masters: the Spanish composer Gaspar Cassadó and Leo Brouwer of Cuba.
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What is it about fifth symphonies? There are three in a row this month, every one a banger. To start, Tchaikovsky's passionate and dramatic four movements from 1888, with Karina Canellakis (pictured) conducting the LPO. It will be edge-of-the-seat stuff. To open, Beethoven, and then the exciting Russian soloist Daniil Trifonov in Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No 3.
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Another great Symphony No 5. This time it's by Dmitri Shostakovich, whose work is both layered and of instant appeal, with vivid orchestration. In the first half, two premieres. The impassioned Nova by Kyiv-born Victoria Vita Polevá is given its UK premiere, with cello soloist Kristina Blaumane. Then, for light relief in serious times, the world premiere of Russian-born Elena Langer's (pictured) humorous setting of Lewis Carroll's nonsense poem The Dong With the Luminous Nose. That's a great evening of music
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The final great Symphony No 5 this month. It's Beethoven's turn with a transformative piece, here played from memory by Aurora Orchestra, giving new immediacy to familiar phrases. At Printworks, the orchestra is 'exploded' across the old newspaper printing halls, and the four movements are interspersed with new music by Nwando Ebizie (pictured). It's cutting edge stuff, grown out of a repertoire favourite. We love this.
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This exciting ensemble of musical shapeshifters presents new music and rethinks classics with the help of the the all-around Soundscape sound system, in Kings Place’s Sound Unwrapped season. There is music by Schubert and the American George Crumb and others, plus the world premiere of a new work by Philadelphian poet, composer and activist Moor Mother (Carmae Ayewa). This is live music as you have never heard it before.
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Paul is haunted by visions of his deceased wife, Marie, but then meets her double, Marietta. Composer Eric Korngold is best known for his film music, so expect drama and suspense as Paul picks his way through this mystery. Swiss tenor Rolf Romai plays Paul, with soprano Allison Oakes (pictured) singing as Marie/Marietta, and Sarah Connolly as the housekeeper in this promising new production by ENO artistic director Annilese Miskimmon, conducted by Kirill Karabits.
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