September at the Barbican

September sees the London Symphony Orchestra start its season with Verdi's Rigoletto whilst the Academy of Ancient Music are performing Monteverdi's L'Orfeo. The Kronos Quartet join forces with Kimmo Phojonen and Samuli Kosmini, whilst the BBC allow us to be totally immersed in Stravinsky's Rite of Spring whilst the London Schools Symphony Orchestra scale another peak.

The LSO opens their season with a concert performance of Verdi's Rigoletto conducted by Gianandrea Noseda, with Dimitri Platanias in the title role (the Greek baritone made his Covent Garden debut in the smale role in 2012) plus Desiree Rancatore (I think this will be the Italian soprano's first performance of Gilda in the UK) and Giuseppe Filianoti. (15/9) Mitsuko Ushida joins the LSO for Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 17 K453 conducted by Robin Ticciati. (19/9)

More opera, from the opposite end of the spectrum: Monteverdi's L'Orfeo with the Academy of Ancient Music directed by Richard Egarr and a concert staging by Orpha Phelan with John Mark Ainsley in the title role, Sophie Bevan, Daniela Lehner, Nathan Berg and Thomas Hobbs

The Kronos Quartet collaborate with 'maverick' accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen and sampling guru Samuli Kosminen in a work called Uniko based around the concept of dreams, for accordion, accordion samples, electrified string quartet and electronic live loops. You have to be there. (18/9).

The BBC Symphony Orchestra is celebrating the centenary of The Rite of Spring by presenting a Total Immersion day devoted to the work with films on the original Ballets Russes and BBC's 2005 reconstruction of the 1913 premiere as well as talks and of course a performance in the evening conducted by Alexander Vedernikov. (22/9)

The London Schools Symphony Orchestra tackles another 20th century monolith, Strauss's Alpine Symphony with Peter Ash conduction (24/9)

The theatre is closed in September for refurbishment with a lively programme promised for October.

Elsewhere on this blog:

• Wonderful Vibrancy - Njabulo Madlala at St Lawrence Jewry
• An original voice - Strekoza i Muravej at the Grimeborn Festival
• Characterful ensemble - Peter Grimes from Aldeburgh - CD review
• Handel Furioso - Isle of Noise at the Grimeborn Festival
• Man on a Mission - talking Historically Informed Stagecraft with Dionysios Kyroploulos
• Vivid and involving - Katherine Broderick and Marcus Farnsworth at the North Norfolk Music Festival
• Fairytales for Accordion - CD review
• Pelleas et Melisande at the Grimeborn Festival
• Motets pour la Maison de Guise - CD review
• St Lawrence Jewry August Music Festival
• Janet Baker 80th birthday tribute
• Home