Classical music: Fiona Maddocks’s 10 best concerts and operas of 2024
A last-minute stand-in saves the day; an unusual artistic double act dazzles; plus, electrifying Strauss, Finnish firepower and high-flying Britten…
The week in classical: La bohème; London Contemporary Music festival – review
Ukrainian soprano Olga Kulchynska is an unforgettable Mimì in Richard Jones’s ever sumptuous Puccini production. And mischief rules at this year’s LCMF
La Bohème review – action rather than angst in lively revival
Richard Jones’s 2017 staging returns to Covent Garden with a young and light-hearted group of bohemians. In the pit Speranza Scappucci keeps things moving musically
The Pirates of Penzance review – not modern nor general but major fun in revival of Mike Leigh’s trad staging
Gilbert & Sullivan stalwarts Richard Suart and John Savourin ensure that English National Opera’s staging buckles your swashes; and, as apprentice pirate Frederic, William Morgan is genuinely funny
Hasse: Serpentes Ignei in Deserto album review – dazzling performances bring this oratorio of snakes on a plain to life
Thibault Noally captures the exuberance of Hasse’s 18th-century ‘church opera’ originally written for female voices
Tosca review – Bryn Terfel’s lustful Scarpia returns to intimidate and compel
Natalya Romaniw brings vulnerability and depth to Tosca and, in the pit, Eun Sun Kim conducts with subtlety and delicacy in this revival of Jonathan Kent’s staging
The week in classical: The Elixir of Love; Septura; Bone-Afide – review
Donizetti’s sparkling romcom is on a wartime footing in ENO’s sitcom-style new production. And in a great week for brass premieres, enter 22 trombones…
The Elixir of Love review – Donizetti’s romcom staged as second world war sitcom is hugely enjoyable
Set among land girls and flying aces Harry Fehr’s new staging is a lot of fun, with Thomas Atkins making a fine ENO debut and Rhian Lois a terrific lady of the manor
The week in classical: The Tales of Hoffmann; Philharmonia/ Salonen; Berlin Philharmonic/ Petrenko – review
Wild fantasies take hold in Offenbach’s compellingly strange opera; Lawrence Power is more than a match for Magnus Lindberg’s new Viola Concerto; and to the underworld with the Berlin Phil
Laurie Anderson: Ark: United States V review – portrait of America is a multimedia mess
A mix of beat poetry, opera, communal screaming, TikTok and tai chi, Anderson’s state-of-the-nation work is occasionally poignant but mostly baffling
The Tales of Hoffmann review – fun, carnivalesque staging goes to the dark side
Damiano Michieletto’s production of Offenbach’s opéra fantastique is full of warped wit and devilish touches with a fine cast bringing this colourful fever-dream to life
The week in classical: Welsh National Opera’s Il trittico; Oxford international song festival – review
Even as they fight for survival, WNO give their all in Puccini at his most affecting – and funniest
Rigoletto review – Miller’s mafioso take still brings style and insights to Verdi’s masterpiece
Jonathan Miller’s iconic staging for ENO is 40 years old but with Richard Farnes conducting and a striking debut from Robyn Allegra Parton as Gilda, this remains a vibrant and engaging production
Pagliacci review – Mid Wales Opera send in the clowns for a stylish and emotive evening
Cavallo’s short opera has been downscaled for a chamber orchestra and given a simple but effective staging, rounded off with some surprise razzle dazzle
M. Butterfly review – Huang Ruo’s cross-cultural opera gets an enthralling UK premiere
Remarkable performances keep us guessing about the intricacies of the east-west relationship at the heart of this BBCSO/Barbican concert staging