The young Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds has opened the door to post-classical music for a whole new generation of young listeners. The music on his album Eulogy for evolution sounds as fresh and inventive today as it did ten years ago. Max Richter has rewritten Vivaldis Four seasons, in a fascinating update for the 21st century. He plays a mischievous game with the original, in which the familiar melodies take all kinds of unexpected twists and turns, guaranteeing a surprise-packed listening experience. Star violinist Lorenzo Gatto treats you to an outstanding performance.

18 February, 2018 15:00 -- amuz

Two female icons of the Baroque the Virgin Mary and Dido, Queen of Carthage are the focal point of this concert. The way that Didos love for Aeneas and Marys love for her son were set to music in the 17th century are touching portrayals of the vulnerability and human feelings of the two characters. Mezzo-soprano Stéphanie dOustrac responds to the musics vacillating moods with a gorgeous variety of vocal effects and colours, enthuses BBC Music Magazine.

23 February, 2018 21:00 -- amuz

In 2018 The Times will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. Over the last decade, The Times has produced wonderful results, with many young music makers finding their way into music, some of them at professional level. The anniversary of The Times is the perfect opportunity to celebrate our alumnis achievements. And more besides! The Times is still growing, blooming and branching out. For the co-creation process The Times Academy, composition students at conservatories have been challenged to write a brand new piece for and with HERMESensemble. This promising and exciting dual project puts the emphasis on musical adventure and the sound of the future.

25 February, 2018 15:00 -- amuz

Julian Prégardien and Michael Gees present songs by Robert & Clara Schumann, adding a sparkle of their own imagination. Incidentally, that was what was expected of musicians in 19th century Romantic salons: they were not just supposed to play the score in front of them. Audiences wanted a creative approach and to play an active role in creating a new work of art. The Badische Zeitung was full of praise for Prégardien and Gees work together in the past: Any attempt to express in words the grace of their performance of Mondnacht would pale in the light of its unreserved beauty.

28 February, 2018 21:00 -- amuz

The Spanish composer Enrique Granados wrote a series of seven Goyescas (1916), extremely virtuoso piano pieces inspired by Francisco de Goyas paintings. Influenced by Spanish folklore, gypsy and flamenco music, this extensive work evokes impressions from the painters life and work and the age in which he lived. It is important for the performing musician to note the instruction at the beginning: play with charm and elegance. The pianist Abdel Rahman El Bacha, with his talent for conjuring a whole palette of colours out of the black and white keys, is perfect for this expressive music.

01 March, 2018 21:00 -- amuz

Three cantatas by the French Baroque composer Nicolas Bernier form the basis of this concert. Each tells a short story about the three-faced Greek mythological goddess Hecate in one of her characteristic guises. Diane is about the hunt for Amor, Lenlèvement de Proserpine tells how Pluto kidnaps Proserpina and takes her to the underworld, and in Me´de´e we hear Medeas rage and fury when she finds out about Jasons betrayal. Bernier combined French elegance with Italian drama like no other.

04 March, 2018 15:00 -- amuz