CLASSICAL: THE FIVE BEST CONCERTS

1

St Matthew Passion Tomorrow & Fri

David Hill conducts the Bach Choir and the English Chamber Orchestra in JS Bach's towering masterpiece at the Royal Festival Hall tomorrow morning, while Nicholas Kraemer directs the City of London Sinfonia at the Barbican in a Good Friday performance. Royal Festival Hall, London SE (07-960 4242) am; Barbican, London EC2 (07-638 889) 6pm

2

Quatuor Mosaiques Mon

The consistently excellent period-instrument foursome give performances of two Mozart String Quartets (K.387 and K.464) and the Duo in B flat for violin and viola, K.424. Queen Elizabeth Hall, London SE (07-960 4242) 7.45pm

3

Emmanuel Ax Mon

The pianist gives a lunchtime recital of Haydn's A-flat Sonata, Debussy's L'isle joyeuse and Estampes, and Corigliano's Fantasia on an Ostinato. Wigmore Hall, London W (07-935 24) pm

4

Mephistopheles Tue

Devilishly camp goings-on at the Coliseum, in Ian Judge's production for English National Opera of Arriga Boito's best-known opera, a hugely enjoyable - and none too serious - take on Goethe's epic.

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

5

The Four Seasons Thur

Yes, it is Vivaldi's old warhorse, but it's being performed by Trevor Pinnock and The English Concert, the foremost of our period-instrument bands. Handel's sublime cantata Apollo e Dafne completes the programme. Queen Elizabeth Hall, London SE (07-960 4242) 7.45pm