Dates for Your Diary

Russian pianist Irina Lankova will make her Wigmore Hall debut on 1 July. Specialising in the romantic and late romantic repertoire, Irina Lankova interprets Rachmaninov and Chopin with passion. The Wigmore Hall recital begins with five Rachmaninov Preludes, followed by Chopin's Nocturne op.48 n°1 in C Minor and Ballade n°1 in G Minor, Chopin's 3rd sonata will complete the concert. The second half will open with Alexander Scriabin's technically demanding Fantasia op.28.

Prokofiev's cantata Alexander Nevsky, reworked from his score for Eisenstein's film about the Russian saint, is to be a highlight of Crouch End Festival Chorus's next concert at the Barbican, on 6 July at 7.30pm.

The concert will also feature Stravinsky's masterwork Symphony of Psalms. Arvo Pärt's Credo, written 40 years ago, completes the programme.

Joining the Chorus and conductor David Temple for the Prokofiev will be mezzo-soprano Jean Rigby.

The University of Texas Wind Ensemble will be at the Cadogan Hall on the 13 July at 7pm performing the UK premiere of John Corigliano's celebrated sensory roller coaster Circus Maximus - an excessive, crazed, and grandly barbarous piece that is truly an aural assault from all directions, as various elements of the ensemble are stationed all around the venue, some even amongst the audience! Conducted by Jerry Junkin and providing an appropriate fanfare-style opener to the evening's programme will be Richard Strauss' short 1909 prelude Feierlicher Einzug, followed by Holst's First Suite in E Flat - a cornerstone in the concert band repertoire. www.cadoganhall.com

Following the huge success of last year's production of Bizet's Carmen, the Blackheath Halls Community Opera returns for a second year on the 15, 17, 18 and 20 July with Puccini's beautiful love story La bohème. A professional cast including soprano Mary Plazas will perform alongside members of the local community.

The 2008 Community Opera promises to be even better than last year! For tickets see www.blackheathhallsopera.com or contact the Blackheath Halls box office on 020 8463 0100.

Internationally acclaimed Korean violinist, Min-Jin Kym, makes a welcome return to the Wigmore Hall on 16 July at 7.30pm together with celebrated duo partner Ian Brown in a diverse programme featuring Beethoven, Mozart, Prokofiev and Schumann. Min-Jin Kym plays a Stradivarius from 1696.

In 2008 Bampton Classical Opera present the UK premiere on 18 July of Ferdinando Paer's Leonora, conducted by Robin Newton making his Bampton Classical Opera debut, and a touring production of two one act operas conducted by Murray Hipkin; Mozart's Apollo and Hyacinth and Gluck's Le cinesi. For full details visit www.bamptonopera.org

The Wihan Quartet have a very busy few months with performances on 19 July at the South Shropshire Arts Festival, Machynlleth Festival with Martin Kasik on 22 August, and the Rye Festival on 19 September. The Wihan will also perform in the stunning French surroundings of Bordeaux, with Martin Kasik at the Orpheus & Bacchus Festival from the 27-29 September.

From St Petersburg in Russia the Mikhailovsky Ballet make their debut appearance in Britain premièring a spectacular new production of the epic Spartacus. They also perform the romantic era ballet Giselle and a classic, unseen in Britain, Le Halte de Cavalerie in a programme with the flamboyant Paquita and Divertissements. The company are only visiting the London Coliseum from 22 - 27July.It stars world famous ballet dancer Denis Matvienko as Spartacus. Details from www.eno.org

Dorset Opera has just announced two, truly international casts for its production of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers at the Coade Theatre, Bryanston, Dorset on 24, 25 and 26 July. Leading the way as one of the Nadirs (on 24 July and for the matinee on 26 July) will be the sensational young American tenor Leonardo Capalbo. Joining him as Zurga will be the prize-winning Tasmanian baritone Simon Thorpe. English born soprano Rebecca von Lipinski will partner Capalbo and Thorpe in the role of Leïla. On 25 July and the evening performance on 26 July, Scottish soprano Janis Kelly returns to Dorset Opera to take on the role of Leïla. Ashley Catling will sing Nadir in these performances. Zurga is Serbian baritone Dimitrie Lazich The French bass Bernard Deletré will sing the role of the high priest Nourabad in all performances. For Box Office 01935 816332 www.dorsetopera.com

On 31 July, the Classical Opera Company returns to the Barbican's 'Mostly Mozart' festival with The Truth about Love, a new programme exploring the theme of love through Mozart's operatic repertoire. A wonderful line-up of internationally renowned artists joins artistic director Ian Page and the company's vibrant period instrument orchestra in a sequence of arias and duets. Further details available on www.classicalopera.co.uk Tickets: £29, £24, £19, £14, £8 Telephone bookings: 020 7638 8891 www.barbican.org.uk/mostlymozart

Pioneering opera company Tête à Tête returns to host opera's very own fringe festival with three weeks of entirely new works. The Opera Festival 08 more than just one Cornetto…. runs from 31 July to 17 August at the Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, London W6 9RL. With tickets to sample three shows a night priced at just £12.50, Tête à Tête urges everyone to take a chance, dip their toe and have a lick of more than just one Cornetto… Tickets: £12.50 (3 shows) or £5.00 (1 show) or £25.00 Meal ticket (includes dinner). Box office: 020 8237 1111 www.riversidestudios.co.uk

Red Priest will make a return visit to the USA in July with performances of their 'Pirates of the Baroque' and new all Bach 'Johann I'm Only Dancing' programmes at the Texas and Indianapolis Early Music Festivals. Red Priest will then return to the UK, with concerts at Fishguard on 1 August and 8 August at Worcester Three Choirs Festivals. www.piersadams.com/RedPriest

Ashley Wass will be making his BBC Proms Debut, performing Vaughan Williams Piano Concerto with the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Vassily Sinaisky on 12 August. In July Ashley will give a BBC Lunchtime Recital at Birmingham Town Hall with Chloe Hanslip, and visit the festivals of Gstaad and Mecklenburg, as well as festivals in France and the UK throughout August and September. www.ashleywass.com

Daniel Barenboim brings his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra to the BBC Proms on 14 August where they will perform Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante in B flat major for oboe, bassoon, violin and cello, Schoenberg's Variations for Orchestra Op 31, Brahms' Symphony No 4 in E minor at 7.00pm and at 10.15pm in the Royal Albert Hall. The concerts will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and streamed live online and available on demand for seven days via BBC iPlayer. The 7pm concert will be shown live on BBC FOUR at 7.30pm and highlights also to be recorded for broadcast on BBC TWO on 16 August.

Roll up for the CBSO's fundraising Fantastique! Gala Night on 17 September, the opening night of the Orchestra's new season. The CBSO is welcoming its new music director, Andris Nelsons, with an evening of exceptional quality from three of his favourite composers: Wagner, Bartók and Berlioz.

Tickets for this one-off event are available for £150 plus vat including best seats in the house or £95 plus vat if you have already bought a ticket for this concert. Tables of 10 are available at £1500 plus vat. To book tickets please contact Gill Powell on 0121 616 6514 or email gpowell@cbso.co.uk.

This year's Beethovenfest Bonn, from 29 August to 28 September, will explore Beethoven's political legacy and his works with a socio-political intention. The opening concert on August 29 features the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen under Paavo Järvi in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, composed with a commitment to the Enlightenment, later misappropriated by the Third Reich and then given the role of a hymn to freedom during Germany's reunification. Visit www.beethovenfest.de for the complete festival programme.

Entry forms are now available for the 19th Haverhill Sinfonia Soloist Competition, which takes place on 27 September - closing date for entries is 21 August.

Categories are Woodwind, Brass, Strings (including guitar and harp), Piano and Singers. Competitors may be of any age and nationality and should be of diploma standard, or at least ABRSM grade 8 distinction.

There are 35 prizes and engagements to the value of £8,250, including solo performances with many orchestras. Details and entry form are available to print at the website - www.haverhillsinfonia.co.uk

This summer the beautiful royal heritage site, The Old Royal Naval College, will reverberate with the sound of jazz as Trinity College of Music holds its inaugural jazz summer school - the Summer Trinity Jazz Course 2008. The week-long course will run from Sunday 27 July to Friday 1 August and is open to instrumentalists and singers of all ages and levels of experience.

The course fees including enrolment, registration and tuition are £390. For more information see www.trinitysummerschool.co.uk or contact Peter Owens on 020 8305 4316 or info@trinitysummerschool.co.uk

The Guildhall School of Music & Drama is launching a new DMus in Composition, making the resources and unique creative environment of the School available to doctoral composition students for the first time. The programme, which is validated by City University, expects to take an average of three students a year. Its quota for 2008 is already full, and the School will be accepting applicants for 2009 entry now. www.gsmd.ac.uk