THE FIVE BEST CONCERTS

Duncan Hadfield

The Proms, 18 Aug

Four works, and two London premieres. George Benjamin's Sometime Voices and Robin Holloway's Hymns to the Senses are the premieres, framed by "ecstasies" Messiaen's L'Ascension and Skryabin's The Poem of Ecstasy.

Royal Albert Hall, London SW7 (0171-589 8212) 7.30pm

Glyndebourne, 17 & 20 Aug

Dame Felicity Lott has replaced Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in Glyndebourne's well-received revival of its 1973 production of Richard Strauss's "conversation piece" opera, Capriccio. A major interpreter of the role of the Countess, Lott glides into Andrew Davis's consummate reading, with the LPO providing the high-gloss finish.

Glyndebourne, Lewes, Sussex (01273 813813) 5.50pm

Three Choirs Festival, 19 Aug

See Going Out Preview, Page 12

Gloucester Cathedral (01452 529819) 7.45pm

Duke Quartet, 17 Aug

Two thrilling and contrasting Modernist masterpieces from the Duke Quartet: Bartk's Quartet No4 and Alban Berg's fiendishly difficult (to play, at least) Lyric Suite.

Dartington Great Hall (01803 863073) 7.30pm

The Proms, 21 Aug

Music by the highly individual voice of Karol Szymanowski is being profitab1y featured throughout the Proms. Here is a chance to take in his last work, the transparently scored Symphony No4 (Sinfonia Concertante) for Piano and Orchestra, with pianist Howard Shelley joining the BBC Philharmonic.

Royal Albert Hall, London SW7 (0171-589 8212) 7.30pm