Website: http://www.festivaldecanarias.com/en

Date: January 10 to February 19, 2012
Country: Spain

The opening year of the Festival de Música de Canarias declared the ‘European year of music’ and commemorated the tercentenary of Bach, Haendel and Scarlatti. The festival was a personal initiative of the then president, Jerónimo Saavedra in 1985 and the tradition began with European opera companies making good use of their stopovers at the Canary Islands on the way to South America by offering their recitals and performances. Although the Canary Islands, which are a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean located off at the northwestern coast of Mainland Africa, Morocco and the Western Sahara, are known for the picturesque archipelago beaches, pleasant climate and natural attractions such as Mount Teide (the third largest volcano in the world), the Festival de Música de Canarias takes pride in the talent it showcases instead. Enriching the cultural environment of the region that has a long tradition in contemporary music has been one of the primary goals of the festival since the beginning, and guarantees to keep improving on it. Every year classical music lovers are invited to unite with performances by internationally known orchestras and artists in Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

2012 marks the 28th anniversary of the festival once again premiering prominent artists’ works. The orchestras lined up for this year’s festival include; Philharmonia Orchestra under Esa-Pekka Salonen, Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg under Ivor Bolton, Orquesta de la Generalitat de Valencia under Zubin Mehta and Mahler Chamber Orchestra with Monteverdi Choir under Sir John Eliot Gardiner. This year guests can also enjoy the skills of a wide variety of soloists. Starting at the age of four, Murray Perahia has mastered playing the piano and has performed in many international events. Known for his interpretations of the classical repertoire, Paul Lewis will be performing along with South Korean pianist, Jinsang Lee, Viennese clarinettist, Daniel Ottensamer and many more.

Website: http://www.hk.artsfestival.org/en/

Date: January 28 to March 8, 2012
Country: China

The Hong Kong Arts Festival not only showcase top artists from around the world, but also exhibits the best of Asian and local talents alongside them. Since 1992 the Young Friends Scheme (YFS), an integrated arts education and audience development programme, has been bringing a wide range of events ranging from classical genre to other innovative and invigorating art forms to the world’s most vertical city. Along with the mind-blowing skyscrapers Hong Kong has to offer to, the YFS enhances appreciation of classical music culture with various workshops, talks, meet-the-artist sessions, exchange programmes, exhibitions and backstage tours.

The 40th Hong Kong Arts Festival has returned with over 200 performances and events within a period of just 39 days. In 2012 guests will have the opportunity to experience 13 new works, one world premiere, a festival symposium and eight Asian premieres in addition to the extraordinary talents and events. Some of the Festival highlights include, Mozart’s questioning of women’s fidelity, Cosi Fan Tutte, with the Bavarian State Orchestra and a twist on Mozart’s Magic Flute staged by Theatre des Bouffes du Nord. Two nights of masterpieces from the Austro-German classical repertoire will be presented by The Bavarian Radio symphony under Daniel Harding during their Hong Kong debut while The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra takes the audience on a journey from Weber’s Overture to Der Freischütz via Mendelssohn’s beloved Violin Concerto to Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra, under Myung-whun Chung. Karita Mattila, Kun Woo Paik, Nigel Kennedy and Janine Jansen will also be present amongst many other soloists.

Website: http://www.bachfestivalflorida.org

Date: February 17 to March 4, 2012
Country: United States

The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park was founded in 1935 in commemoration of the 250th birthday anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach. Not only is it Central Florida’s foremost operating performing arts organization, but also the third-oldest endlessly operating Bach Festival in the United States. Housed in the beautiful Knowles Memorial Chapel on the Rollins College Campus, the Winter Park Bach Festival celebrates the life of a great German baroque composer by presenting his orchestral and choral music to the public for its illumination, edification, delightfulness and enjoyment.

Between the exceptionally high-quality musical performances and guest lectures, visitors can expect the finest classical music in the repertoire with special emphasis on oratorio and large choral works along with the sacrosanct and secular music of Johann Sebastian Bach in the 77th Bach Festival of Winter Park. Internationally renowned Bach scholar and musician Dr. Christoph Wolff will conduct the Saint Mathew Passion in addition to other artists showcasing masterpieces of Bach.

Website: http://www.albustanfestival.com/

Date: February 21 to March 25, 2012
Country: Lebanon

The Al Bustan Festival has been presenting five weeks full of concerts and performances, showcasing diverse cultural performances ever since the foundation in 1994. The annual event that offers an audacious selection of music and artists was established to help revive Lebanon’s cultural life after 17 years of war. While the programme is mainly dedicated to chamber music, the festival also includes opera, choral music, orchestral concerts in addition to other artistic talents. This unique and unprecedented tradition of Lebanon presents more than 30 astonishing performances in a relaxing environment, on a hillside overlooking the beautiful city of Beirut and the Mediterranean in the winter.

Taking on the name of the festival ‘Al Bustan’, Arabic for ‘The Garden’, most performances take place in the Emile Bustani Auditorium and the Crystal Garden Conservatory of the five-star Al Bustan Hotel, located in the village of Beyt Meri. However, events are not limited to those locations, visitors can experience performances in some of the olden and historic churches and halls around Lebanon too.

Each year focuses on a theme or salutes the culture of a particular country. Along with the talented performances, the Festival also organizes master classes and workshops, with the participating artists at the National Conservatoire in Beirut and other institutions across Lebanon.

Themed upon ‘Music From Latin America’, the 2012 edition welcomes the collaboration of soprano Eglise Guttierez and The Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra under Ligia Amadio’s baton. Piazolla’s Oratorio will be performed by The Antonine University mixed choir and The Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra under Gianluca Marciano’s baton, with soloists Guadaloupe Jimenez and Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi. Armenian conductor Davit Harutyunyan will lead Orquesta Sinfonica de Guayaquil from Equador in collaboration with Lebanese violinist Jorge Saadé to present works by Ecuadorian and Mexican composers. Soloists Gianluca Marciano, Cristina Ortiz, Linda Bustani, Maurizio Nader, Alexander Ghindin, Luis Bacalov and more will also be under the spotlight.

Website: http://www.nwbachfest.com/

Date: February 28 to March 18, 2012
Country: United States

Founded in 1978, the event focuses mostly on works by J.S. Bach and Mozart along with those by their contemporaries. Held in Spokane in Washington, guests will be able to experience the unique small town atmosphere coupled with amenities comparable to a large city’s. In addition to the public concerts, a series of educational and outreach activities are scheduled, free of charge and open to the general public. Outside concert halls, guests can also visit the numerous lakes, golf courses, wineries, ski resorts, national parks around the region conclude a rewarding musical trip with a natural touch.

In the 2012 edition, Gunther Schuller will conduct the Festival Orchestra and Chorus to perform Boccherini’s Symphony No.26 in D Major, Op.42, together with soloists Katherine Growden, Rockland Osgood and Donald Wilkinson. Pianist William Doppmann, organist John Bodinger, cellist Zuill Bailey and more artists will also be under the spotlight.

Website: http://www.bilbao700.com/

Date: March 2 to 4, 2012
Country: Spain

Referring to Pierre Beaumarchais’ play La Folle Journée, translated as “The Follies of a Day” the La Folle Journée de Nantes was founded by René Martin in western France, it offers an innovative and unique way of experiencing classical music.

Since 1995, visitors have been presented with a new perspective on concerts that draws and educates an audience of every age by doing away with the undeviating and rather conformist rituals of conventional concerts. The profusion of events that last no longer than 45 minutes, allow visitors to renew their classical music experience at their own convenience and pursuit. The experience is enhanced with an opportunity to meet composers or members of a national music school at their own time in the beautiful city of Nantes. The exceptional venue is capable of hosting more than 270 concerts and 1800 enthusiastic musicians in direct contact with the audience making the five-days spent at the festival extremely memorable and cherishing. The festival takes pride in outplaying the prejudice that surrounds classical music, without bereaving its values. This method is made simpler through the exceptionally low prices and strong artistic demands, making it the largest classical music festival in France. The growing culture and popularity has been such a huge success that it has exported abroad, to Bilbao since 2002, Japan (Tokyo, Nigata, Biwako and Kanazawa) in 2005, Rio de Janeiro in 2007 and Warsaw in 2010.

Website: http://www.miamipianofest.com/festival.html

Date: March 4 to 6, 2012
Country: United States

Established in 1998 by Patrons of Exceptional Artists and Community Concert Association, the festival features two sessions every year, namely the Master and the Discovery Series. Whilst the former focuses on documenting great keyboard masters of this generation, the latter aims to discover emerging pianistic talents. There is one commonplace where both series converge- the urge of building a future audience base to insure the very existence of classical music. Since its first reception, the event has been internationally heralded for its contribution in presenting artists who are capable of challenging performance conventions.

In the 2012 edition, the three-day event welcomes three great names of the pianistic world on stage- Jorge Luis Prats, Claudio Martinez Mehner and Steven Osborne. Franz Liszt scholar Alan Walker will also give a lecture on the composer’s works.

Website: http://www.london-handel-festival.com

Date: March 15 to April 24, 2012
Country: United Kingdom

Founded by Denys Darlow in 1978 the London Handel Festival has contributed to a Handel revival in the UK, specialising in the performance of lesser-known works of the period. It was where the London Handel Orchestra and London Handel Singers made their debut back in 1981. Festival events are held at some of the grandest venues in London, including Handel’s House Museum, St George’s Church at Hanover Square, Wigmore Hall, Foundling Museum and more, with an aim to reach a wider audience. The event is also an important stage to showcase young singers and musicians of outstanding promise by giving them performance opportunities early in their careers.

In the 2012 edition, Handel’s Il Pastor Fido and Il Delirio Amoroso, Leclair’s Violin Sonata No 5 in A major, Hasse Cajo Fabricio and more early repertoires will be presented on stage. Soloists such as Lucy Crowe, Lisandro Abadie, Julia Doyle, Bridget Cunningham will also be under the spotlight with Adrian Butterfield leading and Laurence Cummings conducting.

Website: http://www.festivalcity.hu/

Date: March 16 to April 1, 2012
Country: Hungary

Established in 1980, the event is one of Hungary’s most prominent cultural festival that attracts music and art enthusiasts from all around the world every year. Since its first inception, the festival has featured a diverse series of programmes, covering orchestral concerts, chamber evenings, church concerts, opera performances, musicals, folk dance, exhibitions and more. Whilst enjoying the wonderful cultural showcases, guests can also marvel at the grand architecture of concert venues like the Budapest State Opera and the Palace of the Arts.

The 2012 stage opens with Bartók’s Viola concerto, Kodály’s Variations on a Hungarian folksong, ‘The Peacock’ and Lajtha’s Hortobágy performed by Máté Szücs with the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra under Balázs Kocsár’s baton. Charles Dutoit will conduct the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to perform Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9. Russian National Orchestra will team up with Nikolai Lugansky on Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.1, Op.1 under Mikhail Pletnov’s baton. Kálmán Záborszky will conduct Zugló Philharmonia and King Stephen Symphony Orchestra and Oratorio Choir to present Haydn’s Missa Cellensis in honorem Beatissimae Virginis Mariae. Verdi’s Traviata will be staged by the Hungarian State Opera House under Balázs Kocsár’s baton, featuring soloists Bori Keszei, Szabolcs Brickner and more. Wiener Sängerknaben will also perform classic and Romantic repertoires on stage.

Website: http://www.lucernefestival.ch/

Date: March 24 to April 1, 2012
Country: Switzerland

The prestigious Lucerne Festival had first begun in 1938 in the gardens facing Richard Wagner’s villa in Tribschen. Its first season had featured the legendary Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini conducting an élite orchestra specially assembled for the occasion. Located at the picturesque and historic Old Town of Lucerne, the festival holds three signature events every year- Lucerne Festival at the Piano, at Easter and in Summer. Showcasing a diverse genre of programmes performed by a series of world famous artists, the festival’s irreplaceable reputation is universally heralded. Great names such as Claudio Abbado, Heinz Holliger, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Simon Rattle, Valery Gergiev, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra etc have been frequent guests under Lucerne’s spotlight.

In the 2012 edition, Nikolaus Harnoncourt will lead the Concentus Musicus Wien to perform Handel’s pieces. András Schiff will appear as conductor to collaborate with the Cappella Andrea Barca and an outstanding lineup of soloists. Bernard Haitink will also conduct on Bruckner’s Symphony No.4.