1 City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
The central weekend of this year’s Aldeburgh festival features a short residency from the CBSO and music director Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla. The centrepiece of their first concert is the UK premiere of the Viola Concerto by Jörg Widmann, with Antoine Tamestit as the soloist. Meanwhile, on Sunday afternoon, the orchestra share a programme with the Trio Isimsiz.
Snape Maltings Concert Hall, nr Aldeburgh, 17-18 June
2 Otello
The final new production of the Royal Opera’s 2016-17 season is also one of the most eagerly anticipated, offering the chance to hear Jonas Kaufmann sing the title role of Verdi’s penultimate opera for the first time. Kaufmann is partnered by Maria Agresta as Desdemona in Keith Warner’s production, conducted by Antonio Pappano; Gregory Kunde takes over the lead from 8 July.
Royal Opera House, WC2, 21 June to 15 July
3 Ensemble InterContemporain
The Wigmore Hall seems to have become the go-to London venue for this Paris-based ensemble. Five members of the group are taking part in their latest concert there, which takes in more than a century of music, from Debussy’s Rhapsody No 1 for clarinet and piano to the UK premiere of Matteo Franceschini’s Les Excentriques.
Wigmore Hall, W1, 20 June
4 Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
BCMG’s Aldeburgh’s concert includes a rare world premiere from Oliver Knussen, with a selection of Japanese haiku for soprano and ensemble framed by jewel-like songs and instrumental miniatures by Birtwistle, Stravinsky and Jo Kondo.
Snape Maltings: Britten Studio, 23 June
