Les Troyens; Le nozze di Figaro; Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra/Dudamel – review
Les Troyens proves heroic in more ways than one, Glyndebourne gives Figaro a 60s makeover, and – as ever – the loudest cheers go to Venezuela, writes Fiona Maddocks
Le Nozze di Figaro – review
This Figaro was all very pleasant but just a bit bland, and neither sexy nor dark enough, writes Andrew Clements
Billy Budd; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra; Idomeneo/ Queen of Spades – review
ENO bring out the intensity of Britten's Billy Budd with stark staging and an excellent cast, writes Fiona Maddocks
Don Giovanni; La bohème; English Music festival – review
The Donnas do it too in Garsington's frisky new Don Giovanni, while WNO excels with a rhapsodic Bohème, writes Fiona Maddocks
Mozart: Apollo et Hyacinthus – review
Mozart's opera, written when he was just 11, comes alive in this vibrant recording, writes Stephen Pritchard
Don Giovanni – review
Rather than being the anarchic predator in whose vortex everyone is swept along, this Giovanni seems more of a secondary character, writes George Hall
Idomeneo – review
It's a slow burner of an evening, but dramatic intensity builds to a final act of tremendous power, writes George Hall
Martha Argerich and Friends: Live from Lugano 2011 – review
The latest in Martha Argerich's annual series of recordings from Lugano delights Nicholas Kenyon
Life is a Dream; The Rake’s Progress; Scottish Chamber Orchestra; Die Zauberflöte – review
A walkabout in a warehouse proves too chaotic for Jonathan Dove's new opera, writes Fiona Maddocks
Le Nozze di Figaro – review
This 1930s-set version - musically fine though it is – mistrusts Mozart's mastery, writes Rian Evans
Le Nozze di Figaro – review
Leah Hausman's revival of David McVicar's production has got an angry edge, writes Tim Ashley
Così fan tutte; Dream Hunter; Commotio; Stephen Hough, LPO/Alsop – review
A fine cast revels in a fizzing revival of Jonathan Miller's classic production of Così fan tutte, writes Stephen Pritchard
Così Fan Tutte – review
A sadness seeps into the music as the protagonists' sexual games spiral out of control in this gloriously played performance, writes Tim Ashley
BBC Philharmonic/Mena – review
This BBC Philharmonic performance, with Juanjo Mena conducting, was not a very prepossessing start to Manchester's festival marking the 150th anniversary of Debussy's birth, writes Andrew Clements
Hidden gems of 2011: great classical recordings you may have missed
Fiona Maddocks and Nicholas Kenyon choose a selection of classical CDs that were overlooked this year