Alexander Hall divides his time between London and Hamburg, having spent a lifetime writing in some form or other: fiction, academic research, educational materials and professional translations. He has been an avid concert-goer from his teenage years with fond memories of many of the giants of the past, including Klemperer, Karajan, Böhm, Bernstein and Carlos Kleiber. For him the symphony orchestra is one of the greatest artistic creations of all time.
There is little doubt that the combination of Vasily Petrenko and the RPO is currently yielding magnificent results. Daniel Müller-Schott joined them for a performance of Elgar's Cello Concerto.
Three diverse works written within 15 years of each other, by Kodály, Poulenc and Prokofiev, given with panache by the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, the amazing Jussen brothers and Stanislav Kochanovsky.
Beethoven was the spiritus rector of Ticciati's COE concert at the Elbphilharmonie, with Lisa Batiashvili in commanding form for that composer's fiddle concerto.
Almost a case of bringing coals to Newcastle: two works by Brahms, played by a Swiss orchestra and with an Austrian soloist in the composer's home town.
Conducting the LPO, Dima Slobodeniouk plumbs the depths of Sibelius' Second Symphony, while Beatrice Rana reveals the bewitchment at the heart of Mendelssohn's First Piano Concerto.
Jorma Panula may not be a household name, but he matters enormously in the career development of many conductors. We speak to several of Panula’s Finnish students in order to learn more.
On paper this looked entrancing: a French conductor with Armenian roots assaying a score of oriental splendour. It was the first half, however, with Dutilleux and Debussy that satisfied more.
Everybody's current darling among international orchestras, Klaus Mäkelä, takes his Parisian band on a fantastic ride, courtesy of Berlioz, while Janine Jansen displays individualism in Sibelius.
Hands up if you want lush Russian romanticism, delivered in impeccable style by the LPO and Edward Gardner. Leif Ove Andsnes offers welcome freshness in Grieg.
Nothing quite ordinary or indeed comforting here, the heavy mixture of acid colouring in Lindberg, Ustvolskaya and Stravinsky not tempered by any opulence in Rachmaninov.
A long stellar night of supremely assured singing and playing in Wagner's Siegfried, with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Sir Simon Rattle on top form.
Take lesser-known pieces by Bacewicz, Mozart and Elgar, and finally one of Dvořák’s most lyrical symphonies: these were the dishes served up by Sakari Oramo, Julie Price and the BBCSO.
Dame Mitsuko Uchida demonstrates why she is one of today's greatest Mozartians, while her MCO players give a virtuoso account of a work steeped in the Viennese tradition.
Elizabeth Watts is the soloist in the UK premiere of Ryan Wigglesworth's song cycle Till Dawning, and this composer also unveils his take on another's Fifth Symphony.
With the LPO it's always good to expect the unexpected. Two contemporary pieces including a vibrant clarinet concerto pave the way for a neglected Russian masterpiece.
Once decried as “dangerously introspective”, Schubert's Piano Sonata D.959 is now seen as one of his masterpieces. Eric Lu shows how he is completely on the composer's wavelength in this compelling performance.
Contemplation and reflection should ideally form a counterpoint to jollity and merry-making in the festive season: an object-lesson from Sir Simon Rattle and his supporting forces.
Schubert knew all about existentialism long before the term was coined. It is there in his music and most poignantly so in Winterreise. Allan Clayton treads movingly in the composer's path.
Forensic musicology has its limits: controversy will continue to surround any new attempt at providing a convincing conclusion to Bruckner's final symphony.
Robert and Clara were not the only two-composer family. So were Alma and Gustav. The Nash Ensemble's latest programme highlights Beethoven and the Romantics.
