Traced Overhead

London

Thomas Adès turned 36 this week, still a bit young for a major retrospective. But as a conductor and pianist of international quality as well as being one of Britain's leading composers of his generation, he has all the attributes to be the centre of a festival's attentions. Spread over six weeks, the seven events in the Barbican's "celebration" include a world premiere and two first performances in Britain, with Adès appearing in all three roles. And any concert series that can begin with a visit by Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic (bringing the UK premiere of Tevót) and end with a concert in which the composer himself conducts the Chamber Orchestra of Europe in another UK first, shows the regard in which he is kept. For good measure, the Royal Opera House is reviving its production of Adès's second opera The Tempest this month, too.

· Barbican Centre, EC2, Wed 7 to Apr 22