The only international orchestra at this year’s Proms dazzle in a world premiere dedicated to them. And Puccini and chips with English National Opera

George Benjamin conducted the belated premiere of his Concerto for Orchestra, part of a programme that also celebrated his friendship with the late Oliver Knussen

In this belated birthday celebration, George Benjamin’s programme included his own music plus a sombre memorial to his late friend Oliver Knussen

Over the coming week, the Guardian will select the greatest culture since 2000, carefully compiled by critics and editors. We begin with a countdown of defining classical music compositions, from X-rated opera to high-tech string quartets

There’s a year-long celebration of female composers, a brand new festival of contemporary music – and it’s birthday time for Berlioz

Kirill Petrenko gave a foretaste of his time at the Berlin Phil; at 92, Kurtág finally took Beckett to the opera; and young Leeds winner Eric Lu astonished

The soprano excels on new recordings by the Dunedin and King’s Consorts. Plus, George Benjamin on BBC TV

Benjamin conducts four new pieces with care and intensity but comes into his own with works of ritual mourning by Stravinsky and Messiaen

The Melos Sinfonia’s thrilling concert performance of George Benjamin’s intense, horrifying work was often more dramatic than full productions