The 10 best classical and jazz concerts to book tickets for in spring 2024

Bewitching Rhythms – Marsalis and Ravel

The great jazz trumpeter and band-leader Wynton Marsalis stages another raid on classical territory with a new trumpet concerto, here receiving its UK premiere from Alison Balsom plus the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Antonio Pappano – and paired with Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloé.

Barbican, London EC2 (lso.co.uk) on April 11, and Bristol Beacon (bristolbeacon.org) on April 12

Verdi’s Requiem

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra loves to showcase earth-shaking choral-and-orchestral blockbusters at the Royal Albert Hall and they don’t come more earth-shaking than this.

Royal Albert Hall, London SW7 (royalalberthall.com), April 23

Shostakovich’s Symphony No.5

The Armenian-Venezuelan Chief Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Domingo Hindoyan takes on a Russian epic. They’re joined by fabulous Kazakh pianist Alim Beisembayev for a new concerto by Jamaican Eleonora Alberga. Who said classical music isn’t diverse?

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (liverpoolphil.com), April 25

Dee Dee Bridgewater

The Cheltenham Jazz Festival has bagged some enticing American stars, none more so than Bridgewater, whose coffee-and-cream voice will bring a flavour of the Deep South.

Cheltenham Town Hall (cheltenhamfestivals.com), May 4

Solomon’s Knot

The Brighton Festival’s classical offering is strong this year, and includes this terrific young Baroque group showcasing the “Class of 1685” i.e. Bach, Handel and Scarlatti.

Brighton Dome (brightonfestival.org), May 9

Bartók, Prokofiev, Shostakovich

After fifteen glorious years as Chief Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Ukrainian maestro Kirill Karabits bows out with a thrilling programme, including Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin.

Lighthouse, Poole (bsolive.com), May 15

The Hallé – Finale: Sir Mark Elder conducts Mahler 5

There’ll be farewell tears as Mark Elder conducts his last concert in Manchester as Music Director of the Hallé, in a premiere from James MacMillan and Mahler’s Fifth Symphony.

Bridgewater Hall, Manchester (bridgewater-hall.co.uk), May 31, also June 1 (returns only)

Kaija Saariaho Memorial Concert

The first anniversary of the much-lamented death of the Finnish composer is marked here by performances of three of her gentle, radiant, visionary works by the Carice Singers and Riot Ensemble.

Kings Place, London N1 (kingsplace.co.uk), June 2

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

This year’s Aldeburgh Festival includes two enticing concerts from the BBC SSO, with music from Judith Weir and Unsuk Chin, Britten’s Violin Concerto, and symphonies by Bruckner and Mahler.

Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Suffolk (brittenpearsarts.org), June 19-20

American Minimalism

Performing the hard-hitting, exhilarating music of the American minimalists requires a special concentration and rhythmic drive, which the James McVinnie Ensemble has in abundance.

Purcell Room, London SE1 (southbankcentre.co.uk), June 29