CLASSICAL: THE FIVE BEST CONCERTS

1

Zenith Mon

The new chamber ensemble of Peter Manning, Steven Morris, Philip Dukes, Tim Hugh and Mikhail Kazkevich plays a piano trio, piano quartet and piano quintet by Beethoven, Mahler and Dvorak respectively.

Wigmore Hall, London W (07-935 24) 7.30pm

2

Ariadne auf Naxos Tue

Rare opportunity to experience the original 92 version of Strauss's delightful Ariadne, prefaced by his Incidental Music to Moliere's Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, from the City of London Sinfonia conducted by Richard Hickox. The formidable Christine Brewer sings Ariadne.

Barbican, London EC2 (07-638 889) 7pm

3

English Chamber Orchestra Wed

The brilliant young pianist Gianluca Cascioli joins the orchestra as soloist in Mozart's Piano Concerto No 26 ("Coronation"). There's also music by Ravel, Kakinuma and Schubert. Paul Goodwin conducts.

Barbican, London EC2 (07-638 889) 8pm

4

CBSO Wed

The Finnish maestro Paavo Berglund conducts a programme of Tippett's Concerto for Double String Orchestra, Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto, with Leif Ove Andsnes as soloist, and Mendelssohn's Third Symphony ("Scottish").

Symphony Hall, Birmingham (02-22 3333) 7.30pm

5

LSO Thur

Msistlav Rostropovich conducts a concert marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Pushkin. There's the UK premiere of Shchedrin's Violin Concerto, Tchaikovsky's Polonaise from Eugene Onegin and Prokofiev's Pushkin Waltzes.

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