Sergei Rachmaninov (1873 – 1943)

Despite the presence of Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto on the bill, it is a gripping performance of Samuel Barber's First Symphony that steals this Usher Hall Sunday matinee. 

Elisabeth Brauß excels in Ravel with the BBC Philharmonic and brings and unexpected encore. 

An unusual evening of orchestral virtuosity and an ear-opening adventure with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under Andris Poga. 

Jurowski took a full-on approach in the first movement, grinding through the discords without shame and only pulling back in those rare moments in the score where everyone is catching their breath.

Virtuosic Alina Ibragimova joins the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal for a dynamite performance of Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto, while youthful conductor Hankyeol Yoon leads polished Rachmaninov.