For almost 30 years Huddersfield's annual new-music beanfeast was one of the highlights of the musical year: 10 days in November packed with premieres, and myriad opportunities to get to grips with a whole range of composers generally overlooked through the rest of the year. Yet, under artistic director Graham Mackenzie, the emphasis has changed. While there are still important premieres of works from a range of European and American composers, installations and works in which improvisation plays a major role seem aimed at attracting a new audience. This year's highlights are thinly scattered: concerts by the Arditti Quartet, Klangforum Wien and Exaudi on the opening weekend, a major Stockhausen premiere from pianist Nicolas Hodges during the following week, and a final event recreating John Cage's extraordinary New York concert of 1958. There's certainly quality, if not now the quantity. ac
• Various venues, Fri 21 to Sun 30
