Hallé/Elder review – Elder’s measured passion unleashes Mahler’s magic

Mahler’s huge Third Symphony marked a triumphant opening of the Hallé’s spring season

The week in classical: James MacMillan’s Christmas Oratorio; LPO/Jurowski

James MacMillan embraces history – and the listener – with his Christmas Oratorio. And Alina Ibragimova astounds in fearless Shostakovich

Sibelius: Symphonies 4 & 6 review – grandeur, warmth and flashes of exuberance completes cycle

Hallé/Elder (Hallé)Mark Elder and the Hallé bring a sympathetic, powerful character to Sibelius’s enigmatic symphonies

Home listening: a world premiere recording for… Puccini

Mark Elder conducts a star cast in the original one-act version of Le Willis. Plus, a thrilling new account of Bluebeard’s Castle

The week in classical: A Man of Good Hope; Faust; Parsifal – review

South Africa’s shape-shifting Isango Ensemble find joy in a painful story

Siegfried review – roaring jubilation and radiant beauty from Elder and the Hallé

Elder is a superb Wagnerian, drawing a tremendous performance from the Hallé and vivid power from soloists in this semi-staging of the Ring-cycle opera

Das Rheingold CD review – Hallé bring the drama where patchy protagonists don’t

In a new CD of their series of concert versions of The Ring cycle, the Hallé’s Rheingold has more drama and intensity than the singers at times

National Youth Orchestra/Elder review – operatic army brings Bartók to life

This staging of Bluebeard’s Castle, involving doors, light tubes and more than 150 musicians, was a glorious orchestral display and a sumptuous sonic treat

Britten Sinfonia/Elder review – grace and poise as Brahms gets back to basics

Mark Elder’s first Brahms symphony cycle concert swapped weightiness for electric clarity and was prefaced with works by Mahler, Britten and Finzi

Gurrelieder review – Elder matches beauty with intensity in Schoenberg’s immense drama

This outstanding collaboration between Manchester’s Hallé and the BBC Philharmonic was made all the more affecting by the recent UK terror attacks

Wagner: Parsifal CD review – Elder brings a measured approach but a glorious final act

Cleveman/Dalayman/Tomlinson/Roth/Hallé/Elder(Hallé, four CDs)

Tarik O’Regan: A Celestial Map of the Sky CD review – luminous beauty

Hallé Orchestra, Hallé Youth Choir, Manchester Grammar School Choir/Elder, Phillips (NMC)

Semiramide at the Proms review – every second was thrilling

Mark Elder led a baleful but dazzling rendition of Rossini’s tragic opera on period instruments

Hallé/Elder review – Jonathan Dove explains evolution … with singing galaxies

The composer’s A Brief History of Creation runs riot through 14 billion years of history with Hallé Children’s Choir giving voice to big bangs, galumphing dinosaurs and the first tiny cell

Sibelius: Symphonies Nos 5 & 7; En Saga review – Elder brings care but occasional chill

Sibelius’s great Fifth Symphony fares less well than the Seventh in Elder’s readings