1 Last Night Of The Proms
After this summer’s political events, the orgy of flag-waving that traditionally accompanies the last night’s festivities won’t be to all tastes. The BBC Symphony’s chief conductor Sakari Oramo is in charge again and the programme is the usual mix, with tenor Juan Diego Flórez the star turn.
2 Norma
A new season at Covent Garden gets under way with a new production of Bellini’s most enduring work. The staging is directed by Alex Ollé, part of the Catalan collective La Fura Dels Baus, who were responsible for last season’s stunning Oedipe.
Royal Opera House, WC2, Mon & Fri to 8 Oct
3 The Merchant Of Venice
The centrepiece of Welsh National Opera’s Shakespeare-themed autumn season is the UK premiere of the only opera by André Tchaikowsky, first staged in Bregenz in 2013, 31 years after the composer-pianist’s death. It’s that original production directed by Keith Warner, that is being revived here.
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, Fri to 30 Sep; touring to 22 Nov
4 Yulianna Avdeeva
Winner of the hugely prestigious Chopin piano competition in 2010, Avdeeva is still a bit of unknown quantity here. However, there’s another chance to hear her with this recital, a programme of Bach, Chopin and Prokofiev.
5 Royal Northern Sinfonia
Music director Lars Vogt has yet to put his stamp on the Royal Northern Sinfonia in the way his predecessor Thomas Zehetmair did. He begins his second season playing Mozart’s last piano concerto himself, and conducting Mahler’s Fourth Symphony.
