1 BBC PROMS 2006
No sooner has the Kirov bowed out of a distinctly mixed season at the Coliseum than Valery Gergiev and his orchestra return for yet more Shostakovich: this time the Babi Yar Symphony (Sat) and Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk (Sun). Later in the week, H. K. Gruber conducts pieces by Weill and Eisler (Tues), Vladimir Jurowski and the LPO give the UK premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s A Relic of Memory (Wed), and the Minnesota Orchestra plays Barber, Golijov and Mahler, conducted by Osmo Vänskä (Thur). Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 (www.bbc.co.uk/proms 020-7589 8212)
2 ULSTER ORCHESTRA
A testing selection of works for the conductor and pianist Howard Shelley: Stravinsky’s Le Baiser de la Fée, Shostakovich’s Second Piano Concerto and the suite from Glazunov’s Raymonda. Ulster Hall, Belfast (www.ulsterhall.co.uk
0870 3331918), Fri
3 THE GRAND EUROPEAN RECORDER TOUR
An enjoyable romp through the great recorder repertoire of Telemann, Corelli, Handel and Vivaldi, with soloist Cathryn Dew and harpsichordist Micaela Schmitz. St Swithun’s Church, Worcester (www.earlymusica.permutation.com 01905 611427), Fri
4 THE COMPOSER REVEALED
The always inventive Judith Bingham unveils her latest work, The Flying Hours, inspired by the short, scandalous life of theEarl of Rochester. The concert also includes works by John Blow, Handel and Purcell. Burn How Garden House Hotel, Bowness on Windermere (www.ldsm.org.uk
0845 6442144), Sat
5 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
A rare chance to hear Schumann’s Manfred in full, played by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (Mon), Stéphane Denève conducts the revitalised Royal Scottish National Orchestra in Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony (Tues), while the l Budapest Festival Orchestra, led by Iván Fischer, plays Bartók, Stravinsky and Brahms (Wed), and Richard Strauss’s first ballet score, Josephslegende (Thur). Usher Hall, Lothian Road, Edinburgh (www.eif.co.uk 0131-473 2000)