| Wednesday 20 March 2024 | 19:00 |
| Rachmaninov, Sergei (1873-1943) | Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor, Op.18 | |
| Berlioz, Hector (1803-1869) | Symphonie fantastique, Op.14 |
| Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg | |
| Gustavo Gimeno | Conductor |
| Beatrice Rana | Piano |
Serge Rachmaninov’s breathlessly beautiful Piano Concerto No. 2 is perhaps the most beloved of all romantic piano concertos. This music is full of passion, longing and romance, but also comfort and serenity. The soloist is Italian Beatrice Rana, who has been praised by audiences and critics alike and is a regular guest on international concert stages.
She debuted with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in January 2020 with Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and returned in 2023 with Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini for piano and orchestra. We joyfully welcome her back, this time with a guest performance from the Philharmonie Luxembourg, led by Spanish chief conductor Gustavo Gimeno.
We also hear Hector Berlioz’ fantastical Symphonie Fantastique, which is filled with energy, powerful desire and the heat of unrestrained love. It is the story of a sensitive young musician who, out of frustration, poisons himself with opium. His beloved is transformed into a recurring melody, a fixed idea, that plagues him incessantly.
