QUICKSILVER

The superb Scottish Ensemble on tour with the premiere of a Concerto for Marimba and Strings by the mercurial Austrian composer Kurt Schwertsik. Colin Currie is the man with the sticks.
Various venues, Scotland (www.scottishensemble.co.uk 0141-332 4747), Feb 3-8

SPRINGTIME IN PARIS

Except it’s in Scotland. Stéphane Denève plays to his Gallic strengths by whisking the Royal Scottish National through scintillating programmes of Poulenc, Ravel, Offenbach and contemporary Parisians.
Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow (www.rsno.org.uk 0141-353 8000), Mar 19-28

REQUIEMS IN BIRMINGHAM

Verdi’s and Britten’s on successive nights, from Antonio Pappano, the Royal Opera Chorus and Orchestra, and terrific soloists. A macabre but thrilling pairing.
Symphony Hall, Birmingham (www.thsh.co.uk 0121-780 3333), Mar 20-21

NIELSEN COMPLETE

Collaboration between Mark Elder’s Hallé Orchestra and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under Sakari Oramo to bring all six of the great Dane’s highly charged symphonies to Birmingham and Manchester.
Symphony Hall, Birmingham (www.thsh.co.uk 0121-780 3333); Bridgewater Hall, Manchester (www.halle.co.uk 0161-907 9000), Jan 7-Feb 3

TOTAL IMMERSION

In Karlheinz Stockhausen, for a day. Includes choral music, a film, talks and performances of Inori and Hymnen.
Barbican Hall, Silk Street, London EC2 (www.barbican.org.uk 0845 1207500), Jan 17

CITY OF DREAMS

Esa-Pekka Salonen’s first mega-project at the helm of the Philharmonia — a musical exploration of Vienna from 1900 to 1935. Launches with Schoenberg’s vast Gurrelieder and ends with Wozzeck in October.
Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London SE1 (www.philharmonia.co.uk/vienna 0800 6526727), from Feb 28

CHORAL PILGRIMAGE

Harry Christophers’s Sixteen tour a wonderful programme celebrating the anniversaries of Henry Purcell and James Macmillan, born exactly 300 years apart.
Various venues (www.thesixteen.com), from Feb 27