1 Hipermestra
A new Glyndebourne season opens with the first ever British staging of Cavalli’s opera, which has only been seen outside Italy once before. Former Glyndebourne director of productions Graham Vick is at the helm, while William Christie conducts and Emőke Baráth takes the title role.
Glyndebourne Opera House, nr Lewes, 20 May to 8 July
2 Le Villi
Scottish Opera’s Sunday afternoon series of operas in concert ends with Puccini’s first stage work. The company’s music director Stuart Stratford conducts this 1884 tale of supernatural revenge.
Theatre Royal, Glasgow, 21 May
3 Bluebeard’s Castle
Iván Fischer’s latest concert with the ensemble he co-founded, the Budapest Festival Orchestra, is an all-Bartók programme. A concert performance of the composer’s only opera, Bluebeard’s Castle, with Ildikó Komlósi and Krisztián Cser as the protagonists, is preceded by his Hungarian Peasant Songs, and interspersed with traditional folk songs.
Royal Festival Hall, SE1, 23 May
4 Peter Serkin
One of the finest pianists of our time makes a rare appearance, performing Brahms’s first piano concerto. Serkin is touring with the symphony orchestra of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where his father was artistic leader from 68 to 76.
Cadogan Hall, SW1, 26 May
5 Graham Fitkin
Tecwyn Evans conducts the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in the Vale of Glamorgan festival’s final concert. Alongside works by John Adams and Huw Watkins is the world premiere of Fitkin’s concerto for amplified recorder.
Wales Millennium Centre: BBC Hoddinott Hall, 26 May
