A staggering 114 musicians will play masterworks by John Adams, Debussy, Ravel, Mahler and Bruckner when the LSO tours Australia next year.

Opera’s most dysfunctional of families gets searing staging and stellar vocals.

Blockbusters from Kaufmann and the Dude lead a stellar pack, but an exceptional month throws up plenty of other treasure, plus a remarkable Aussie debut.

Zimerman and Rattle produce a Beethoven Piano concerto cycle for the ages.

Simon Stone's sexting Tristan may be baffling but Skelton, Stemme and Rattle demand to be heard.

Highlights this month include Sir Simon Rattle on Janáček’s Vixen, Paul Dean on his new “Symphony” for the Australian World Orchestra, Alan Cumming on Adelaide and ageing, and Amanda Harris on representation and cultural appropriation.

Sir Simon Rattle and bass-baritone Gerald Finley talk to Clive Paget about how Janáček spun something so profoundly philosophical out of a tale of foxes in a forest.

Rattle leads a fine, modern recording of a Beethoven curiosity.

Bolstered by vivid leads and the LSO, Rattle’s second Vixen is his best.

Sheku’s Elgar sees him filling some very big shoes indeed.

Clive Paget recommends modern masterpieces from the Met, Rattle’s damnable Faust, and a seven-year-old Yo-Yo.

This week's highlights include Sir Simon Rattle conducting the Australian World Orchestra and Simone Young conducting the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.