Mixed in Dolby Atmos and Binaural at 24bit 96k. From Grammy and Emmy Award-winning trumpeter, synthesist, and Academy Award-nominated film composer Mark Isham comes At the Carousel Club, a six-track album that brings together jazz improvisation, vintage analog electronics, and cinematic atmosphere into a single, deeply personal statement. The album began with Isham's towering collection of vintage analog synthesizers and modular instruments: a vast, interconnected system he used to generate massive electronic landscapes and evolving sonic textures. Those foundations became the architecture for live ensemble performance, recorded at the legendary Mad Hatter Studios with drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, bassist Kaveh Rastegar, guitarist Nels Cline, vocalist Ayo Awosika, and the Orchid String Quartet. At the center of it all is Isham's trumpet, lyrical, searching, and unmistakably human. Moving through each environment as an observer, a storyteller, and an improviser. The result is music that is electronic but organic, cinematic but intimate, structured yet alive with spontaneity. At the Carousel Club is a record for listeners who find themselves at the intersection of jazz, ambient, and contemporary classical music. For fans of Pat Metheny, Brian Eno, Jon Hassell, and Nils Frahm.

In war-torn Rome, Floria Tosca and Mario Cavaradossi live for each other and for their art. But when Cavaradossi helps an escaped prisoner, the lovers make a deadly enemy in the form of Baron Scarpia, Chief of Police. At the mercy of Scarpia's twisted desires, Tosca is forced into making a horrific bargain: sleeping with the man she hates to save the man she loves. Can she find a way out? With a star-studded cast, Jakub Hrusa conducts his first new production as Music Director of The Royal Opera. Modern-day Rome provides the backdrop for Oliver Mears' unmissable, gripping new production of Puccini's thriller.

The Summer Night Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic is the world's biggest annual classical open-air concert that takes place in the magical setting of the Schönbrunn Palace Baroque park in Vienna (Concert date: June 19, 2026). Lorenzo Viotti conducted the Summer Night Concert for the first time. Welsh opera singer Sir Bryn Terfel performed as soloist, singing arias from Arrigo Boito's Mefistofele and Giuseppe Verdi's Falstaff, as well as the finale from Richard Wagner's Das Rheingold and Tevye's song from the musical Fiddler on the Roof by Jerry Bock. To the sounds of Maurice Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No. 2, dancers of the Vienna State Ballet brought the ancient tale of the foundlings Daphnis and Chloe to life in a choreography by Eno Peçi, making them visible as "shadow figures" on the palace façade.

Mussorgsky's searing exploration of a tsar assailed b by fear and paranoia is given special contemporary relevance in this much-admired performance. Stage director Kirill Serebrennikov has incorporated the works of photographer Dmitry Markov, who travelled throughout Russia capturing everyday life in the country, and this presents unavoidable contrasts between authoritarianism and the real Russia. Featuring an outstanding cast, the opera is conducted by Vasily Petrenko in his first appearance with the Concertgebouw Orchestra. Opera magazine wrote that 'the premiere made for a dazzling opening to the Holland Festival'.

Andris Nelsons and the Wiener Philharmoniker confront the uncompromising power of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 6, the composer's darkest and most enigmatic symphonic statement. With gripping intensity and architectural control, Nelsons traces the work's inexorable march from martial determination to catastrophic collapse. The famous hammer blows in the finale strike with devastating force, while moments of lyrical repose are shaped with haunting restraint. This performance reveals Mahler's Sixth as a tragic drama of fate and resistance, uncompromising in it's emotional impact. Recorded at the Salzburg Festival, the concert forms part of the Wiener Philharmoniker's Mahler cycle with Andris Nelsons. 'Mahler's ?tragedy' as a catharc experience in Salzburg. Standing ovaons for the Wiener Philharmoniker under Andris Nelsons' (Die Presse) Program: Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 6

In this new production of the Arena di Verona, Giacomo Puccini's masterpiece La Boheme emerges as an intimate drama. Director Alfonso Signorini contrasts the summer setting of the amphitheatre with a snow-covered vision of 19th-century Paris, placing the tragic love story of Mimì and Rodolfo within a striking visual frame. Audience favourite Vittorio Grigòlo gives a charismatic interpretation of Rodolfo, alongside soprano Juliana Grigoryan, who presents Mimì in her Arena d ebut. Luca Micheletti and Eleonora Bellocci complete the central quartet as Marcello and Musetta. Under the musical direction of Daniel Oren, the orchestra and chorus of the Arena di Verona bring Puccini's score to life. 'An evening of great occasions, with a cheering audience well in excess of ten thousand' (L'Adige).

In a remote Spanish town, the free-spirited Carmen declares that any man she loves should beware. But even she is unprepared for what happens when she decides to seduce police officer Don Jose. Though initially uninterested in Carmen's charms, Don Jose - against the wishes of his mother and of Micaëla, the woman who loves him - soon abandons his respectable career for a life of danger with Carmen, joining her and her smuggler friends as they outrun the law. But Carmen quickly wearies of Don Jose's possessiveness, longing to return to her life of independence. When she turns her attention to the celebrated toreador Escamillo, Don Jose's jealousy and despair threaten to violently erupt. Damiano Michieletto's searing production casts scorching light on the lust, violence and passion of Bizet's ever-popular opera.

A festive classic, including some of Tchaikovsky's - and indeed, the classical ballet canon's - most instantly recognisable tunes, Peter Wright's production of The Nutcracker has been enchanting children and adults alike since it's first performance by The Royal Ballet in 1984. Julia Trevelyan Oman's designs bring the story wonderfully to life, from the 19th-century German home of the Stahlbaums - which features a Christmas tree that transforms beyond one's imagination - to the Kingdom of Sweets, where everything is sugar and sparkle.

Handel's Baroque opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto unfolds here as a high-stakes drama of power, passion and survival. Dmitri Tcherniakov's powerful production strips the story to it's psychological core, placing political rivalry and a fiery love story within the claustrophobic setting of an underground bunker. Christophe Dumaux delivers a compelling Cesare, while Olga Kulchynska shines as a 'lyrical' Cleopatra in her Salzburg debut. With a superb supporting cast, above all Lucile Richardot as Cornelia 'with her smouldering mezzo' (BR Klassik) and Federico Fiorio as Sesto, Emmanuelle Haim conducts Le Concert d'Astree from the harpsichord, shaping 'a perfect whole' (Kurier) of musical brilliance and electrifying theatre.

As an endless source of inspiration, Ovid's Metamorphoses have left a lasting mark on our culture for over two thousand years. Combining some of it's episodes with music by Antonio Vivaldi, Stage Director Barrie Kosky creates a pasticcio for our times, a fascinating new work of rich imagination and breathless narratives. With a leading cast of singers assembled by Cecilia Bartoli, and with the participation of actor Angela Winkler, Hotel Metamorphosis stands out as 'a panopticon of human emotions'. Vivaldi expert Gianluca Capuano conducts Les Musiciens du Prince - Monaco, presenting a unique variety of Vivaldi's arias, ensembles and choruses, music with a particularly powerful emotional charge. 'What a brilliant evening of theatre.' (BR Klassik) / 'Checking into this hotel guarantees a luxury stay.' (Kurier) / 'the musical Champions League.' (Deutschlandfunk Kultur)

With a spectacular cast and the staging direction of Stefano Poda, this production of Verdi's Nabucco presents the Arena di Verona in a postmodern aesthetic brought to light through a futuristic vision, cosmic symbolism and absolute abstraction. Anna Netrebko gifts the festival's audience with a powerful interpretation of one of Verdi's most demanding roles: her Abigaille is 'beautiful, vivacious, magnetic' (La Stampa) and 'tackles this formidable challenge with great confidence' (Rivista Musica). Amartuvshin Enkhbat is 'a marvellous performer of Nabucco, deeply moving' (Forum Opera). 'Pinchas Steinberg conducts the choir and orchestra of the Arena di Verona with verve, power, brio and fire' (Der Merker), a magnificent performance that culminated in a rendition of 'Va' pensiero' brimming with pathos and intensity.

Wagner defined Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg as the most complete work that he had ever created. The Bayreuth Festival 2025 presents the comedy in a new production staged by Matthias Davids, whose playful irreverence stands between tradition and renewal. Under the exceptional baton of Daniele Gatti, who debuted in Bayreuth in 2008 with Parsifal, the cast showcases it's brilliance and finesse. Georg Zeppenfeld, at the core of the performance, interprets Hans Sachs with excellent vocal skills and particular sensibility. Equally remarkable performances are given by Michael Spyres and Christina Nilsson, respectively, as Walther and Eva, and by Michael Nagy as a finely drawn Beckmesser. The result is a compelling piece of music theatre: 'A comedy of manners where themes of art, tradition and human love arise naturally.' (Seen and Heard International) Michael Spyres 'has everything a Stolzing needs: he is effortlessly present, sounds light yet embodied in the upper register, a German knight with italianità.' (BR-KLASSIK)

With a sublime cast and the revolutionary staging by Ulrich Rasche, this Salzburg Festival production of Donizetti's Maria Stuarda transforms a bel canto masterpiece into an evening of theatre. The conflict between Maria and Elisabetta becomes tangible through contrasting costumes, a constantly shifting space of rotating platforms, and projected images. Lisette Oropesa's Maria showcases 'a truly wonderful display of vocal intelligence, human warmth and a completely effortless, natural tone' (Süddeutsche Zeitung), while Kate Lindsey's Elisabetta conveys the fury and despair of the English monarch with striking intensity. Under the baton of Antonello Manacorda and with the outstanding contribution of the Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance, this production conquers through rhythm, movement, and physical presence as expressive forces. 'Lisette Oropesa imbues all of this with vocal mastery and emotion. Beyond pure virtuosity, she shapes the inner workings of the character into operatic drama.' (Der Standard)

With it's wonderfully poetic and sensual score, 'Rusalka' is Antonin Dvorak's most beloved opera, filled with musical effects that evoke the beauty and magic of a world inhabited by nymphs and water sprites. Jaroslav Kvapil's libretto is based on a famously tragic children's fairy tale, but in this acclaimed reinvention by directors Philipp Stolzl and Philipp M. Krenn Rusalka is depicted as a young woman from the dark fringes of society. She trades her power of speech to live in Hollywood at the side of a handsome movie star but is doomed to remain an outsider and a lost soul.

Among Teatro alla Scala's most unforgettable productions, this La forza del destino is a performance of striking musical energy, with Riccardo Chailly conducting an exceptional cast of opera stars. Anna Netrebko (Leonora), confirms her absolute dominance of the Verdian repertoire, showcasing 'beautiful floating high notes and enviable fiato' (OperaWire). Brian Jagde (Don Alvaro) and Ludovic Tezier (Don Carlo), give impeccable performances of great emotional depth and timbral richness. Joining forces, Stage Director Leo Muscato and Set Designer Federica Parolini deliver a reinterpretation of Verdi's classic in a modern key. On a set that impresses for both beauty and functionality, the scenes are set across different eras, reminding us that war is always part of humans' fate. 'The undisputed star of the evening is Anna Netrebko. She elevates Donna Leonora with her distinctive, dark, velvety timbre, impeccable high notes, and acting presence.' (Orpheus Magazine)

A manifesto of Italian romanticism, Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor is a tale of dark atmosphere and turbulent love. Teatro alla Scala presents it's new production under the signature of stage director Yannis Kokkos, whose sober vision remains faithful to the libretto with elegance, emotion and the expression of passions over any gesture of modernity. Conductor Riccardo Chailly leads a splendid vocal cast: Lisette Oropesa delivers a compelling Lucia of vocal refinement and emotional depth, while Juan Diego Florez brings elegance and lyrical intensity to Edgardo. The Orchestra and Chorus give an exceptional interpretation, creating a 'beautiful, rich, ominous sound' (Bachtrack). 'Riveting. Florez and Oropesa did not disappoint on the opening night... The chemistry between them is electrifying from the opening duet. (FINANCIAL TIMES)

Among the most powerful works by Gustav Mahler and one of the longest symphonies of the Romantic period, the Symphony No. 3 is performed by Andris Nelsons and the Wiener Philharmoniker as part of their Mahler cycle. The composer's intention to create a musical reflection of the world is perfectly caught by Nelsons, who shapes the work's immense forces into a compelling narrative, from primordial darkness to transcendent affirmation. With Violeta Urmana as soloist, the Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks and Salzburger Festspiele und Theater Kinderchor, the performance unfolds with luminous transparency and emotional depth. 'A melancholic giant, unleashed' (Der Standard) Program: Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 3

Lise is the only daughter of Widow Simone, the owner of a prosperous farm. She is in love with the young farmer Colas, but her mother has higher ambitions for her, hoping to marry her off to Alain, the son of the wealthy proprietor Thomas. Desperate to marry Colas rather than Alain, Lise contrives to outwit her mother's plans. When La Fille mal gardee premiered in Covent Garden on 28 January 1960, it instantly won all hearts. Inspired by Jean Dauberval's French ballet, Ashton's version combines exuberant good humour and an affectionate portrayal of village life. The Royal Ballet's Founder Choreographer, Frederick Ashton, hoped to capture the 'leafy pastoral of perpetual sunshine... The suspended stillness of a Constable landscape of my beloved Suffolk, luminous and calm'. Osbert Lancaster's colourful designs bring the charm of the countryside to life.

Turandot / Tosca / Love Duets - Sonya Yoncheva & Vittorio Grigolo Turandot: 'Netrebko does not merely sing it: she interprets it. What emerges is a character much more human and ultimately truer than usual' (La Stampa) Tosca: 'spectacle of monumental opulence' (Online Merker). 'A Tosca to relish!' (Artesnews. It) "standing ovation Tosca at the Arena di Verona" (Operalife). Love Duets - Sonya Yoncheva & Vittorio Grigolo: 'A concert evening about love, lust and passion. Sonya Yoncheva has the full and vibrant timbre of a true lyrical soprano' (L'Arena) 'Vittorio Grigolo is undoubtedly a charismatic artist and always attentive to the interpretation of the characters' (operclick)

A dazzling double-bill of classic G&S comedy and new writing from Scottish Opera. Trial by Jury, first performed in 1875, is the first major hit from the partnership of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. Set around a classic case of broken vows - the defendant having literally left the claimant at the altar - the trial bubbles over with emotion, humour, and downright chaos, leaving the jury divided. How will they decide between the charming yet swindling defendant and the utterly captivating claimant? In A Matter of Misconduct!, Emma Jenkins and Toby Hession present a daring new operetta set in the press room at Number 9 Downing Street. When a scandal threatens to break about the front runner in a bloody leadership campaign, a lawyer is needed to prevent information from reaching the press. Sylvia Lawless from the firm Lawless, Lawless, Lawless and Crook must find the loopholes in this modern take on unsavoury behaviour.