CLASSICAL: THE FIVE BEST CONCERTS

1

Philharmonia Tue

Benjamin Zander teams up with the Philharmonia in two classic works - Beethoven's Symphony No 5 and Richard Strauss's Don Quixote, in which the cello of Andrew Shulman represents the Don.

Royal Festival Hall, London SEl (07-22 3333) 7.30pm

2

CBSO Wed

A nice line-up comes from the CBSO's new Music Director, Sakari Oramo, who conducts bass-baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky in Mussorgsky's Songs and Dances of Death, framed by Bax's Tintagel and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 6.

Symphony Hall, Birmingham (02-236 5622) 7.30pm

3

Thesee Mon

In a unique collaboration students from six of Europe's top conservatories team up with Les Arts Florissants under William Christie for what should be a splendid airing for Lully's 675 opera.

Barbican Hall, London EC2 (07-638 889) 7.30pm

4

Hansel and Gretel Tue

Humperdinck's classic opera in a revival of David Pountney's seminal ENO production. A strong cast is led by Nerys Jones and Margaret Richardson, with Elgar Howarth conducting.

Coliseum, London WC2 (07-632 8300) 7.30pm

5

New London Orchestra Thur

Having profitably explored "lighter" English music, the urbane Ronald Corp and his NLO turn their attention across the Atlantic for a packed programme of lollipops, including music by Bernstein, Gershwin, Anderson and Sousa.

St John's, Smith Square, London SW (07-222 06) 7.30pm