Imogen Tilden

Sir Stephen Hough will lead a major relaunch of the Leeds International Piano Competition, introducing an increased age limit to 35 and allowing competitors complete freedom of repertoire. The reforms aim to emphasize individuality, creativity and long‑term artistic development rather than exam‑style assessment. Finalists will propose three concertos for performance with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, with the jury selecting the final choice. Steps to reduce bias, including continued blind listening in the first round, accompany new prizes recognizing contemporary music, encore performance, community engagement and audience preference. The competition seeks to maintain its legacy of championing imaginative and expressive musicians.

Glyndebourne presents its first staging of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo in a production by William Kentridge that emphasizes the role of La Musica and highlights Eurydice’s agency. The staging incorporates charcoal drawings, video projections, and a 1920s aesthetic inspired by Rilke, while the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment performs on period instruments under Jonathan Cohen. Performers discuss the opera’s musical innovation, emotional power, and lasting relevance. The production runs at Glyndebourne before moving to Athens and later to the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Daniel Harding has been appointed the next music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, beginning in the 2027–28 season and succeeding Gustavo Dudamel. The orchestra’s leadership highlighted his artistic vision, global perspective and strong rapport with musicians. Harding, known for his international conducting career and parallel work as an airline pilot, expressed enthusiasm for building on the orchestra’s legacy. Dudamel and former music director Esa-Pekka Salonen voiced confidence and support for his leadership. As director designate, Harding will lead several concerts in late 2026 and early 2027 featuring a wide range of repertoire.

The 2026 BBC Proms season will present 72 concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and additional events across the UK, featuring major international orchestras, prominent soloists and numerous premieres. American composers and cultural milestones will be prominently recognised, including the 250th anniversary of US independence and the centenary of Miles Davis. The programme also introduces new thematic events such as a Bond-themed Prom, a prog rock debut, and family-oriented collaborations. BBC leaders report strong audience numbers and growing digital engagement despite ongoing budget pressures, emphasising efforts to broaden reach while maintaining traditional elements of the festival.

Paavo Järvi will become chief conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra starting in the 2028–29 season, succeeding Edward Gardner. Järvi cites strong chemistry with the orchestra following a 2025 China tour and plans to feature Estonian and British contemporary music. He emphasizes the need for advocacy to broaden classical music’s reach while maintaining artistic integrity. Gardner, who remains in post for two more years, praises the orchestra’s versatility and explains his departure as driven by an increasing workload, including a Ring Cycle in Norway. The LPO continues as a major resident orchestra at the Southbank Centre and Glyndebourne.

An ambitious immersive production in Budapest, Walk My World blends modern circus, dance and cabaret to reinterpret the story of Dido and Aeneas across 40 interconnected performance spaces. Created by Recirquel’s director Bence Vági, the show reflects his boundary‑crossing career and draws on wide artistic influences. Supported partly by the Hungarian government, the production emerges amid concerns over cultural control under Viktor Orbán, though Vági reports no direct censorship. The show’s complexity involves tightly choreographed performer movements and advanced staging, culminating in a dramatic finale that showcases Vági’s fusion of acrobatics and emotional storytelling.

Pianist Yuja Wang publicly shared an email from broadcaster Norman Lebrecht and accused him of misogynistic bullying after he questioned her withdrawal from a planned BBC Radio 3 interview. The BBC responded by ending its working relationship with Lebrecht. Lebrecht denied misogyny, saying his message was merely sharp and would have been the same toward any artist. Wang is scheduled to perform with the London Symphony Orchestra and issued no further comment.

A multi-orchestra event at the Southbank Centre aimed to offer a free‑roaming ‘live mixtape’ experience but was undermined by poor logistics and lacklustre programming. Overflow from the packed Royal Festival Hall created bottlenecks that left many attendees queueing rather than hearing music, and performances ranged from polished to awkward depending on the venue and ensemble. Despite attracting a younger and more diverse audience, the event failed to capitalise on its potential, suffering from overcrowding, unused spaces and uninspired artistic choices.

Long‑serving classical music critic Andrew Clements died at 75 after a period of illness. Celebrated for his deep knowledge of contemporary and classical music, he wrote for the Guardian for more than three decades and was widely respected for his sharp, distinctive criticism. His career included earlier posts at the New Statesman, Musical Times, the Financial Times, and Faber & Faber. Known for championing modern composers and holding firm critical convictions, he was admired for both his professional rigor and personal warmth. Guardian editor Katharine Viner praised his passion, precision and lifelong commitment to music.

John Harte has been appointed managing director of the London Symphony Orchestra, succeeding Kathryn McDowell after two decades. Harte, credited with transforming Aurora Orchestra into a leading British arts organisation alongside Nicholas Collon and Jane Mitchell, will join a senior team that includes Sir Antonio Pappano and Sir Simon Rattle. Leaders from both the LSO and Aurora praised his achievements and contributions, while Aurora’s trustees prepare to search for his successor.

A wide-ranging preview of 2026 music events highlights major pop, rock and classical performances across the UK, including anticipated tours, album releases, and milestone celebrations. Pop and rock artists such as Lily Allen, Charli XCX, Raye, Dave, Olivia Dean and Metallica present new work or large-scale live shows, while classical offerings include Simon Rattle’s Janáček, a new opera on Hokusai, centenary tributes to Kurtág, and major productions at institutions including the Royal Opera House and Scottish Opera. The schedule showcases diverse genres, significant artist returns, and cross-cultural collaborations.

Writers highlight memorable Rob Reiner moments across his directing and acting career, praising his versatility in genres ranging from comedy and romance to drama and satire. Individual reflections celebrate films including Stand By Me, A Few Good Men, This Is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, Misery and The Princess Bride, along with notable TV appearances. Reiner is portrayed as a filmmaker and performer whose work blends emotional resonance, comedic precision and enduring cultural impact.

The Royal Opera’s long-running production of Puccini’s Turandot returns in a vivid revival showcasing its grand staging, elaborate costumes and large ensembles. Contributors describe the work’s musical scale, historical context and lasting appeal, while highlighting key performers, the production’s theatrical traditions and its continued impact after four decades.

Sky’s new Amadeus miniseries aims to attract younger listeners to Mozart by presenting more than a hundred authentic musical excerpts alongside dramatized performances. Cast members including Will Sharpe and Rory Kinnear immersed themselves in period musical practices, while contributors such as Simon Callow and Martin Cullingford highlight the legacy of the original play and 1984 film in shaping public appreciation of Mozart. Supporters believe easy access via streaming could help a new generation discover classical music, though the renewed portrayal may again cast Salieri in an unfavorable light.

Roger Allam reflects on his diverse career while discussing his role in The Choral, including challenges of performing intentionally poor singing and the film’s themes of community and music during wartime. He revisits key roles in Les Misérables, Game of Thrones, The Thick of It and various radio and television projects, noting how they shaped his public image and career. Allam contrasts these characters with more personally resonant roles such as DI Fred Thursday in Endeavour and considers returning to singing as he explores connections between art, memory and shared human experience.

Simon Rattle became the first musician to win Gramophone’s artist of the year award twice, recognised for his work with major orchestras and wide-ranging recordings. Raphaël Pichon and his ensemble Pygmalion won recording of the year for their performance of Bach’s Mass in B Minor. María Dueñas received both young artist of the year and the instrumental award, while George Benjamin’s opera Picture a Day Like This and the newly recorded 15th‑century Krasiński Codex earned major honours. Sir Thomas Allen received the lifetime achievement award, celebrated for a long international opera career.

English National Opera opens its 2025–26 season with a new English-language production of Rossini’s La Cenerentola, featuring contemporary staging, magical elements and a reimagined chorus presented as royalty through the ages. Director Julia Burbach emphasizes character depth and modern relevance, while conductor Yi-Chen Lin and cast members describe the musical and linguistic challenges of performing Rossini in translation. Despite recent financial pressures, ENO launches a season of new productions, presenting this opera as a vibrant blend of humor, emotional resonance and technical virtuosity.

Major artists across pop, rock, jazz, and classical music announce autumn 2025 albums, tours, and premieres, including new releases from David Byrne, Taylor Swift, Little Simz and Cardi B, alongside extensive UK and European tours by performers such as Lady Gaga, CMAT and Kneecap. Classical highlights include landmark performances by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, premieres of new works by Oliver Leith and Matthew Rooke, and major opera productions at the Royal Opera House and Glyndebourne.

A Proms concert transformed themes and imagery from The Traitors into a theatrical spectacle at the Royal Albert Hall, blending pop covers and light classical selections performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and accompanying choirs under Karen Ní Bhroin. Claudia Winkleman hosted an event featuring dancers, ex‑contestants, and staged references to the TV show, with standout moments including Andrés Presno’s Puccini aria and a high‑energy finale built around Murder on the Dancefloor and a playful traitor unmasking.

Alfred Brendel, the renowned pianist and writer, has died at 94 at his home in London. Born in Moravia and largely self-taught, he built a six-decade career performing and recording globally, notably becoming the first pianist to record Beethoven’s complete piano works. He played a key role in promoting the music of Haydn, Schubert, Schoenberg and Liszt, and later continued contributing to the musical world as a teacher, essayist and poet. Widely admired by colleagues and students, Brendel received numerous honorary degrees and major international awards recognizing his artistic impact.