Under the baton of Music Director Pierre Bleuse, Ensemble intercontemporain brings a mesmerising evening to the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms on 23 July. With its unmistakable flair for the avant-garde, the ensemble opens with Berio’s Sequenza V, a virtuosic showpiece for solo trombone, played by Lucas Ounissi. Boulez’s Dialogue de l’ombre double follows with Jérôme Comte on clarinet, and IRCAM on electronics. The programme closes with Berio’s Recital I (for Cathy), a tragicomic music-drama sung by Soprano Sarah Aristidou.

Le Balcon, the acclaimed ensemble renowned for its bold crossover productions, ranging from contemporary to classical repertoire, returns to the Salzburg Festival on 19 August at the Großer Saal, Stiftung Mozarteum, Salzburg. They will present A Tribute to Pierre Boulez, an immersive concert honouring the legacy of one of the twentieth century’s greatest innovators. Partnering with IRCAM for cutting-edge electronics, the ensemble will perform works by Boulez, Nono, and Stockhausen under the direction of Music Director Maxime Pascal.

On 21 August, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, one of Europe’s leading ensembles known for recordings with Deutsche Grammophon, performs at BBC Proms, presenting a programme that highlights Danish artistry and celebrates the country’s rich musical heritage. Led by conductor Fabio Luisi, the evening opens with Bent Sørensen’s Evening Land, a contemplative soundscape evoking the stillness of rural Denmark. This is followed by The Years by Anna Clyne, shaped by the solitude of the COVID-19 lockdowns and built around a haunting text by Stephanie Fleischmann. The concert concludes with Beethoven’s Symphony No.9, written during his years of profound deafness and powered by a defiant hope, culminating in the final movement’s triumphant Ode to Joy, a universal expression of unity that resonates far beyond borders. The performance features soprano Clara Cecilie Thomsen, contralto Jasmin White, tenor Issachah Savage, bass Adam Pałka, and Danish National Concert Choir.

On 13 and 14 September, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Nicholas Collon, takes the stage for George Enescu International Festival at Sala Radio, Bucharest. On 13 September, pianists Lucas and Arthur Jussen join the orchestra for Mendelssohn’s lively Concerto No.1 for Two Pianos and Orchestra, alongside Robert Schumann’s dramatic Symphony No. 4. The programme also honours the legacy of Romanian composer Anatol Vieru. The following evening features violinist Alexandru Tomescu performing George Enescu’s Caprice Roumain, completed posthumously by Cornel Țăranu, as well as Edward Elgar’s Variations on an Original Theme, Enigma. Together, these concerts offer a compelling blend of virtuosity and profound musical storytelling.

On 31 August, Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, led by violinist and Artistic Director Pekka Kuusisto, presents a powerful and reflective programme that explores themes of cultural resilience and human injustice. The programme includes Shostakovich’s String Quartet No.8, written in the aftermath of the Allied bombing of Dresden and often interpreted as a response to the trauma of war. Interspersed throughout the concert are moving performances by Ume Sámi singer and composer Katarina Barruk, a vital voice for the endangered Ume Sámi language, blending traditional joik with contemporary sounds. Works by J. S. Bach, Philip Glass, Caroline Shaw, Michael Tippett, and the UK premiere of a new piece by Hannah Kendall complete this richly woven 50-minute programme.