Mozart’s darkest work, performed by the talented young cast of the Garsington Opera.

The love affairs of the Queen of Egypt and the Roman conqueror as penned by Handel. Sumptuous!

Two of the finest sacred works in the early repertoire infused with the same universal emotion

With his celebration of the destiny of prophet Elijah, Mendelssohn makes his own mark in the traditional oratorio genre with great verve.

Poulenc’s poignant choral works are among the finest sacred pieces in 20^th century repertoire

A lesser-known work by Verdi whose rich writing for orchestra and voices prefigures his greatest compositions.

Rameau’s comedy is an irresistibly seductive French baroque opera gem

Charpentier is one of the subtlest masters of French 17^th century musical life

A rare piece by Lully which offers further proof of his reputation as an extremely refined writer.

Two masters of baroque sacred writing explore the same lament in two masterpieces of heightened emotion.

The Stabat genre traversed the centuries. This version by Rossini lacks neither emotional scope nor echoes of his operatic writing.

This foray into the exotic East is an entertainment dished up with humour and virtuosity by the music of a young Rossini

Handel in all his musical and vocal splendour and a legendary madness scene

The Magnificat, a sublime canticle sung by the Virgin Mary after the Annunciation, in versions by Bach the elder and his son. A musical and spiritual lineage.

One of Mozart’s most poignant works, enriched by three centuries of legend and preceded by rare works by his contemporaries.

The creation of the universe by the founding father of Viennese classicism

The Mass in C preceded the completion of the Missa solemnis by fifteen years, but the musician’s modern and visionary dimension was already apparent.

Written for all-female voices, this sole surviving oratorio by the “Red Priest” will be conducted by Vivaldi connoisseur Jean-Christophe Spinosi.

A fascinating and complex work born of the fruitful collaboration between Strauss and his librettist Hofmannsthal, this Frau calls for an exceptional artistic team of the calibre assembled here.

The last masterpiece by Rossini, who had abandoned operatic composition. However, inspiration is not wanting in this “final sinful indulgence of old age”.

An orchestral masterclass from Beethoven and a moving hymn to love and liberty

The earlier of Bach’s two Passions, which already demonstrates his perfect mastery of the balance between solo arias and choral parts

Rameau’s inspired handling of drama and colour inform this neglected heroic pastorale revived by Les Ambassadeurs

Burning passion and ardent embraces in this Shakespeare tragedy featuring two of the most intense roles in the French repertoire. Gounod scales epic heights.

Handel’s rarely performed Serse championed here by highly promising singers Emily D’Angelo and Jakub Józef Orliński. 

The St Matthew Passion, in which Bach gives full expression to his splendour and maturity

Bartók’s only opera, steeped in the musical traditions of his native Hungary, is a bewitching score performed here by a world-class duo.

A monumental work which is the culmination of a musical life and a huge mountain to scale for the performers

This founding myth of modern opera and the cornerstone of the operatic genre presented as a favola in musica

Fauré’s Requiem and Gounod’s rarely performed Messe de Clovis. Two perspective on late 19^th century French sacred repertoire.

The rare opera Alessandro dates from Handel’s prolific London period and was a milestone when it was first staged, bringing together the two most famous divas of the day

Psyché, which is less well known than Hamlet, is worthy of a revival. It demonstrates the Second Empire’s interest in mythology, which is handled here with great flair