WHAT'S ON

The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, The Sage Gateshead, 7.30pm, Tuesday. The programme includes Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and Strauss' Four Last Songs. Box office: 0191-443-4661.

REVIEWS

Janacek: The Excursions of Mr Broucek 2CD (DG4777387)

This brilliant live recording of Janacek's only mature comic opera by the BBC Symphony Orchastra features an adventurous trip to the moon and time travel to the 15th century, with some of the composer's most imaginative music. A must.

Haydn: The Creation (Archiv4777361)

Paul McCreesh and the Gabrieli Consort and Players, using a luxuriously large cast of five soloists almost 100 singers and 113 players, presents a ravishing account of Haydn's The Creation. Highly recommended.

Sibelius/Schoenberg: Hilary Hahn (DG4777346)

The rarely heard violin concerto by Schoenberg is eloquently performed by Hilary Hahn, backed by the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. The CD is coupled with a refreshing rendition of Sibelius's Violin Concerto.

Bartok: Bluebeard's Castle (DVD Decca0743254)

A spectacular studio production of Bluebeard's Castle with soloist Kolos Kovats and Sylvia Sass and the London Philharmonic with Sir George Solti. An engaging masterpiece.