Georg Friedrich Haas's much-praised In Vain makes its British debut, there is a rare chance to see three of Donizetti's historical operas and the Britten centenary celebrations reach their climax
**In Vain**
Sixty this year, Georg Friedrich Haas is a senior figure in contemporary music across Europe, though so far his music remains little known to audiences on this side of the channel. But now In Vain, one of his most admired scores, which has been described as one of the most important composed in Europe so far in this century, gets its first British performances with the London Sinfonietta, conducted by André de Ridder. An hour-long piece for 24 instruments, In Vain was composed in 2000 as a reaction to the success of the far right in the Austrian elections of the previous year. Haas's score includes detailed instructions for lighting the performing space, so that the audience listens sometimes with the hall lit normally, sometimes in total darkness, while the music commutes between passages in normal tuning and those in microtones. It is all-embracing and totally absorbing. Town Hall, Huddersfield, 16 November, hcmf.co.uk; Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, 6 December, southbankcentre.co.uk
**The Tudors**
Three of Donizetti's rarely staged historical operas, Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda and Roberto Devereux, give an English slant to Welsh National Opera's autumn tour. Director Alessandro Talevi and conductor Daniele Rustioni are responsible for two of the shows; Rudolf Frey and Graeme Jenkins take over for the other. Millennium Centre, Cardiff, 7 September to 6 October, wno.org.uk, then touring until 29 November to Swansea, Oxford, Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham, Llandudno and Southampton.
**Orchestra Mozart**
Claudio Abbado brings his hand-picked chamber orchestra to London for the first time. He conducts the first concert himself – all Beethoven, with the great Martha Argerich as soloist – and passes the baton to the rapidly rising Diego Matheuz for the second, a programme of Mozart and Beethoven. Royal Festival Hall, London, 1 and 3 October, southbankcentre.co.uk
**Les Vêpres Siciliennes**
The Royal Opera marks the Verdi bicentenary with its first-ever production of his neglected French-language score from the 1850s. It's also the first opportunity for British audiences to sample the work of much-hyped director Stefan Herheim, and Antonio Pappano conducts a cast led by Marina Poplavskaya, Bryan Hymel and Erwin Schrott. Royal Opera House, London, 17 October to 11 November, roh.org.uk
**Britten Centenary Weekend**
The centrepiece of the Britten centenary celebrations comes on the weekend of his 100th birthday itself, in the wonderful concert hall that was his own creation. Oliver Knussen kicks it off with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a programme that includes Britten's Spring Symphony and Cantata Academica, and the premiere of a commission from Ryan Wigglesworth. Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh, 22-24 November, brittenaldeburgh.co.uk Reported by guardian.co.uk 3 hours ago.
**In Vain**
Sixty this year, Georg Friedrich Haas is a senior figure in contemporary music across Europe, though so far his music remains little known to audiences on this side of the channel. But now In Vain, one of his most admired scores, which has been described as one of the most important composed in Europe so far in this century, gets its first British performances with the London Sinfonietta, conducted by André de Ridder. An hour-long piece for 24 instruments, In Vain was composed in 2000 as a reaction to the success of the far right in the Austrian elections of the previous year. Haas's score includes detailed instructions for lighting the performing space, so that the audience listens sometimes with the hall lit normally, sometimes in total darkness, while the music commutes between passages in normal tuning and those in microtones. It is all-embracing and totally absorbing. Town Hall, Huddersfield, 16 November, hcmf.co.uk; Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, 6 December, southbankcentre.co.uk
**The Tudors**
Three of Donizetti's rarely staged historical operas, Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda and Roberto Devereux, give an English slant to Welsh National Opera's autumn tour. Director Alessandro Talevi and conductor Daniele Rustioni are responsible for two of the shows; Rudolf Frey and Graeme Jenkins take over for the other. Millennium Centre, Cardiff, 7 September to 6 October, wno.org.uk, then touring until 29 November to Swansea, Oxford, Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham, Llandudno and Southampton.
**Orchestra Mozart**
Claudio Abbado brings his hand-picked chamber orchestra to London for the first time. He conducts the first concert himself – all Beethoven, with the great Martha Argerich as soloist – and passes the baton to the rapidly rising Diego Matheuz for the second, a programme of Mozart and Beethoven. Royal Festival Hall, London, 1 and 3 October, southbankcentre.co.uk
**Les Vêpres Siciliennes**
The Royal Opera marks the Verdi bicentenary with its first-ever production of his neglected French-language score from the 1850s. It's also the first opportunity for British audiences to sample the work of much-hyped director Stefan Herheim, and Antonio Pappano conducts a cast led by Marina Poplavskaya, Bryan Hymel and Erwin Schrott. Royal Opera House, London, 17 October to 11 November, roh.org.uk
**Britten Centenary Weekend**
The centrepiece of the Britten centenary celebrations comes on the weekend of his 100th birthday itself, in the wonderful concert hall that was his own creation. Oliver Knussen kicks it off with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a programme that includes Britten's Spring Symphony and Cantata Academica, and the premiere of a commission from Ryan Wigglesworth. Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh, 22-24 November, brittenaldeburgh.co.uk Reported by guardian.co.uk 3 hours ago.
