After the usual tedious technical glitches, details of the Barbican Centre's 2012 - 2013 classical music season are finally up on their website.
It begins on a high as Sir Colin Davis celebrates his 85th birthday with the piano partnership of Radu Lupu and Mitsuko Uchida on 27 September 2012. But there are no visits from European symphony orchestras (presumably three concerts from the highly-paid LA Phil don't come cheap) and far fewer must-sees than in previous years.
The main strengths in the recitals programme, which includes a one week residency from Juan Diego Florez and solo recitals from Elina Garanca, Cecilia Bartoli, Renée Fleming and Joyce DiDonato (who also joins JDF in his residency). Pianists include the familiar faces of Evgeny Kissin, Stephen Hough and Murray Perahia, and there's a welcome return to the stage from Maxim Vengerov.
Operas (in concert) include Donizetti's Belisario (conducted by Sir Mark Elder), Handel's Radamisto and rare Imeneo (with David Daniels and Lucy Crowe), The Turn of the Screw and Lully's Phaéton.
Booking opens online to Barbican Red Members 23 Jan, Orange Members 26 Jan and everyone else 30 Jan.
