| Prokofiev, Sergei (1891-1953) | Chout, Fragments from the Ballet, Op.21 | |
| Lindberg, Magnus (b. 1958) | Piano Concerto no. 2 (UK premiere) | |
| Stravinsky, Igor (1882-1971) | Petrushka (1911 version) |
| London Philharmonic Orchestra | |
| Vladimir Jurowski | Conductor |
| Yefim Bronfman | Piano |
Jurowski conducts colourful ballet music by the Russian masters Prokofiev and Stravinsky
One day in 1911, Igor Stravinsky was writing a simple piano piece when an idea hit him. A piano, representing the Russian folk puppet Petrushka, would suddenly spring to life and 'exasperate the orchestra with diabolical cascades of arpeggios'.
This was the starting point for his big stylistic breakthrough - the haunting ballet Petrushka in which Stravinsky would depict his homeland with 'quick tempos, major keys, smells of Russian food, sweat and glistening leather boots'.
It's heard here against the more luscious piano-orchestral soundscape of Magnus Lindberg's Second Piano Concerto, given its UK premiere this evening, and excerpts from Prokofiev's own satirical ballet for Diaghilev, Chout.
Royal Festival Hall at 6.15pm – pre-concert event. Dame Monica Mason, former Director of the Royal Ballet, discusses the Golden Age of Russian Ballet.
Free
