On 19 June, Pierre-Laurent Aimard performs Olivier Messiaen’s Catalogue d’Oiseaux in four concerts, taking in sunrise over the River Alde to sunset amid the wildlife at RSPB Minsmere. 

Starting at 4.30am in the Oyster Bar at Snape Maltings Concert Hall, and ending at midnight in the Britten Studio, this extraordinary day forms the centrepiece of Pierre-Laurent’s eighth – and final – Aldeburgh Festival as Artistic Director. The entire series of concerts is broadcast live by BBC Radio 3.

Preceding this, Pierre-Laurent joins Tamara Stefanovich to lead masterclasses on Catalogue d’Oiseaux with students from the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme.

Other highlights of the Festival are Berg’s Chamber Concerto with Thomas Zehetmair, a solo recital featuring UK premieres by György Kurtág, Marco Stroppa and George Benjamin on 24 June; the world premiere of Sensation by Julian Anderson on 25 June and works by Ligeti, Bizet and Bartók with Emanuel Ax, Tamara Stefanovich and Lorenzo Soules on 26 June.