Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Symphony no. 2 in E minor, Op.27

With Andris Nelsons heading off to European festival commitments, the Boston Symphony continues its Tanglewood season with a series of guest conductors.

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Lenox

02 Aug 2025

Precision, energy and expressive poise in Elim Chan’s Tanglewood debut

By Edward Sava-Segal

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London

Torn silk: Lozakovich's Prokofiev impresses with the Philharmonia

By Roy Westbrook, 20 February 2025

How to bring off the most romantic work of the last great Romantic composer, all 60 minutes of it? Send for Tugan Sokhiev.

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London

20 Feb 2025

Torn silk: Lozakovich's Prokofiev impresses with the Philharmonia

By Roy Westbrook

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Dublin

A passionate Rachmaninov 2 from González-Granados and the NSO

By Andrew Larkin, 31 January 2025

A concert of striking contrasts in Dublin, from Debussy’s ethereal textures to Rachmaninov’s lush romanticism.

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Dublin

31 Jan 2025

A passionate Rachmaninov 2 from González-Granados and the NSO

By Andrew Larkin

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New York City

Elegant Chopin from Yunchan Lim, the NY Philharmonic and Kazuki Yamada

By Susan Stempleski, 27 November 2024

Rising conductor Kazuki Yamada conducts a clear, forthright and flowing account of Rachmaninov's Second Symphony.

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New York City

27 Nov 2024

Elegant Chopin from Yunchan Lim and the NY Phil

By Susan Stempleski

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New York City

Lisa Batiashvili glows in Prokofiev with the Royal Concertgebouw at Carnegie Hall

By Susan Stempleski, 22 November 2024

The Georgian-born German violinist dazzles in a generous, mostly Russian program led by Chief Conductor Designate, Klaus Mäkelä.

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New York City

22 Nov 2024

Batiashvili glows with the Royal Concertgebouw at Carnegie Hall

By Susan Stempleski

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London

Rachmaninov and Beethoven from Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra of Tokyo

By Dominic Lowe, 24 October 2024

A rewarding visit from this Japanese orchestra under principal conductor Sebastian Weigle featured a fine Rachmaninov Second Symphony and a vivid, gusty Beethoven Violin Concerto from soloist Christian Tetzlaff.

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London

24 Oct 2024

Rachmaninov, Beethoven from Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra

By Dominic Lowe

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Montreal

The return leg: Nézet-Séguin's legendary Philadelphians visit Montreal

By Ian Cochrane, 19 April 2024

A musical hero returns to his hometown with his Philadelphian orchestra in tow.

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Montreal

19 Apr 2024

The return leg: Nézet-Séguin's legendary Philadelphians visit Montreal

By Ian Cochrane

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London

Radiant Rachmaninov 2 suggests a fruitful harvest ahead for Pappano and the LSO

By Roy Westbrook, 14 April 2024

Pappano's transition from pit to podium continues in London, with fine results in a Barbican programme of Boulanger, Barber and Rachmaninov.

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London

14 Apr 2024

Radiant Rachmaninov 2 from Pappano and the LSO

By Roy Westbrook

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London

Vasily Petrenko and the RPO thrill in Rachmaninov, Louise Alder triumphs in Strauss

By Mark Valencia, 08 February 2024

The flourishing partnership between Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra continues to be vital in both senses of the word.

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London

08 Feb 2024

Vasily Petrenko and the RPO thrill, Louise Alder triumphs

By Mark Valencia

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Singapore

Patrician performances distinguish Singapore's belated Rachmaninov anniversary nod

By Chang Tou Liang, 13 January 2024

Rachmaninov's anniversary as celebrated by the Singapore Symphony proves a case of better late than never.

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Singapore

13 Jan 2024

Singapore's belated Rachmaninov anniversary nod

By Chang Tou Liang

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Hamburg

The Philadelphia Orchestra pays homage to Rachmaninov at the Elbphilharmonie

By Alexander Hall, 01 November 2023

In the first of two all-Rachmaninov programmes, The Philadelphia Orchestra, its Music Director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and Daniil Trifonov show why together they are some of the hottest property on the planet.

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Hamburg

01 Nov 2023

Philadelphia Orchestra pays homage to Rachmaninov at the Elphi

By Alexander Hall

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Birmingham

Weightless and transparent: the CBSO and Kazuki Yamada amaze in Rachmaninov

By Simon Cummings, 07 June 2023

Under Kazuki Yamada, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra gives one of its finest performances in years, in a concert featuring music by Holst, Beethoven and Rachmaninov.

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Birmingham

07 Jun 2023

Weightless and transparent: the CBSO amazes in Rachmaninov 2

By Simon Cummings

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Boston

Dawn x 3 with Gautier Capuçon, Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony

By Kevin Wells, 13 April 2023

Gautier Capuçon gives the US premiere of Thierry Escaich's second cello concerto, Les Chants de l’aube.

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Boston

13 Apr 2023

Dawn x 3 with Gautier Capuçon, Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony

By Kevin Wells

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London

Korngold and Rachmaninov glow in Cadogan Hall with van Steen and the RPO

By Roy Westbrook, 23 February 2023

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra save their finest playing of the evening until the end, Rachmaninov's Second Symphony.

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London

23 Feb 2023

Korngold and Rachmaninov glow with van Steen and the RPO

By Roy Westbrook

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Manchester

Invitation to the Dance: Alban Gerhardt takes up Anna Clyne's stunning cello concerto

By Peter Connors, 28 January 2023

Anna Clyne's superb cello concerto is given a beautiful performance by Alban Gerhardt and the BBC Philharmonic under Ben Gernon.

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Manchester

28 Jan 2023

Invitation to the Dance: Gerhardt plays Anna Clyne's cello concerto

By Peter Connors

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London

Dame Ethel Smyth at the double: a rare concerto for Kazuki Yamada’s Proms debut

By Mark Pullinger, 25 July 2022

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra's Chief Conductor Designate makes a strong impression in purposeful Rachmaninov after Elena Urioste and Ben Goldscheider wave the flag for Dame Ethel Smyth.

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London

25 Jul 2022

Smyth at the double: a rare concerto for Kazuki Yamada’s Proms debut

By Mark Pullinger

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Liverpool

Radiant Rachmaninov from Hindoyan and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

By Leighton Jones, 27 February 2022

Domingo Hindoyan continues to bring French orchestral rarities, and conducts a Russian symphony in a Sunday matinee to a highly receptive Liverpool audience.

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Liverpool

27 Feb 2022

Radiant Rachmaninov from Hindoyan and the RLPO

By Leighton Jones

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London

The best of Russia: Alpesh Chauhan and the London Philharmonic play Rachmaninov

By Roy Westbrook, 26 February 2022

Rather than settle for a risk-free approach, Chauhan went for it in an interpretation that encouraged the LPO to dare all.

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London

26 Feb 2022

The best of Russia: Alpesh Chauhan and the LPO play Rachmaninov

By Roy Westbrook

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Milan

Viotti brings Italianate sunshine to Russian repertoire in Milan

By Mark Pullinger, 24 February 2022

Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings and Rachmaninov's Second Symphony are given urgent, ardent readings by the Filarmonica della Scala.

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Milan

24 Feb 2022

Viotti brings Italianate sunshine to Russian repertoire in Milan

By Mark Pullinger

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Edinburgh

RSNO and Thomas Søndergård shine in fiery Stravinsky and powerful Rachmaninov

By David Smythe, 18 February 2022

A dramatic reading of Stravinsky's Violin Concerto, with soloist Patricia Kopatchinskaja, rounded out a programme that also included a Carlijn Metselaar world premiere and a life-affirming performance of Rachmaninov's Second Symphony.

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Edinburgh

18 Feb 2022

RSNO and Søndergård shine in fiery Stravinsky and powerful Rachmaninov

By David Smythe

Berlin

A feast in times of famine: Berlin Philhamonic's Covid experiment is a musical triumph

By Hugo Shirley, 20 March 2021

The Berlin Philharmonic's experimental concert not only paves the way to a return to near normality, it presents performances of stunning drama and power.

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Berlin

20 Mar 2021

A feast in times of famine: Berlin Phil's Covid experiment a triumph

By Hugo Shirley

London

Passionate, ebullient Rachmaninov from Paavo Jarvi and the NHK

By Mark Pullinger, 24 February 2020

Igor Stravinsky once described Sergei Rachmaninov as "a six-and-a-half foot scowl". His Second Symphony – often a lugubrious affair – was here turned into something urgent and vital.

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London

24 Feb 2020

Passionate, ebullient Rachmaninov from Paavo Jarvi and the NHK

By Mark Pullinger

Manchester

A tale of two halves as Jess Gillam makes her Hallé debut

By Hugh Morris, 16 January 2020

Intense lyricism bridges the gap between John Adams and Rachmaninov, but debutant Kazuki Yamada struggles to link the two.

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Manchester

16 Jan 2020

A tale of two halves as Jess Gillam makes her Hallé debut

By Hugh Morris

Seattle

Feddeck channels North Sea in Seattle

By Erica Miner, 16 November 2019

James Feddeck conducts the Seattle Symphony in a premiere of Angelique Poteat's cello concerto by plus Britten and Rachmaninov.

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Seattle

16 Nov 2019

Feddeck channels North Sea in Seattle

By Erica Miner

London

Uplifting Romantic giants from Ax, Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra

By Nick Boston, 18 September 2019

Ax, Rattle and the LSO make two weighty masterpieces feel airy, uncluttered and suitably uplifting.

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London

18 Sep 2019

Uplifting Romantic giants from Ax, Rattle and the LSO

By Nick Boston

London

Prom 48: Cristian Măcelaru and the BBC SO look east to Rachmaninov, Prokofiev and Silvestri

By Dominic Lowe, 24 August 2019

Making his Proms debut, Cristian Măcelaru opened the evening with music from his countryman, Constantin Silvestri, before tackling Prokofiev and Rachmaninov.

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London

24 Aug 2019

Prom 48: Cristian Măcelaru and the BBC SO look east

By Dominic Lowe

London

Limpid clarity: Beethoven and Rachmaninov from Lupu, Järvi and the Philharmonia

By Matthew Rye, 03 February 2019

A rare appearance by Radu Lupu proves that a concerto soloist doesn’t have to be showy to thrill an audience.

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London

03 Feb 2019

Limpid clarity: Lupu, Järvi and the Philharmonia

By Matthew Rye

Berlin

Tales of the unexpected: Ticciati and Tetzlaff at the Philharmonie

By Hugo Shirley, 16 November 2018

Robin Ticciati and the DSO bring a strong sense of purpose to Rachmaninov's Second Symphony and Christian Tetzlaff explores the extremes of Beethoven's Violin Concerto.

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Berlin

16 Nov 2018

Tales of the unexpected: Ticciati and Tetzlaff at the Philharmonie

By Hugo Shirley

London

The Goldilocks approach to Russian masterworks from Bringuier, Sokolov and the RPO

By Alexander Hall, 30 October 2018

Neither the conductor, Lionel Bringuier, nor the soloist, Valerij Sokolov, bring much intensity of expression in this RPO concert to a pair of 20th-century Russian masterworks.

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London

30 Oct 2018

The Goldilocks approach to Russian masterworks

By Alexander Hall

London

Rachmaninov with an authentic Russian flavour at Cadogan Hall

By Mark Pullinger, 04 October 2018

The Russian State Symphony Orchestra under Vasily Petrenko celebrates its heritage with an evening of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov

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London

04 Oct 2018

Rachmaninov with an authentic Russian flavour at Cadogan Hall

By Mark Pullinger

Hong Kong

Energetic Rachmaninov under Jaap van Zweden in Hong Kong

By Alan Yu, 31 August 2018

The Hong Kong Philharmonic opens its 45th season with Mozart, Stravinsky and Rachmaninov.

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Hong Kong

31 Aug 2018

Energetic Rachmaninov under Jaap van Zweden

By Alan Yu

Cleveland

Stéphane Denève and The Cleveland Orchestra: witty Poulenc and gigantic Rachmaninov

By Timothy Robson, 24 March 2018

Jory Vinikour was the soloist for Poulenc’s rarely heard Concert champêtre. A performance of Rachmaninov's Symphony no. 2, in which thrilling excess ruled, completed the program.

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Cleveland

24 Mar 2018

Witty Poulenc and gigantic Rachmaninov from The Cleveland Orchestra

By Timothy Robson

Atlanta

De Waart and Hadelich are first-rate with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

By William E Ford, 01 March 2018

Maestro Edo de Waart and violinist Augustin Hadelich team up to provide a spectacular performance of Shostakovich.

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Atlanta

01 Mar 2018

De Waart and Hadelich are first-rate with ASO

By William E Ford

Manchester

Novel approaches to old favourites from Carlo Rizzi and The Hallé

By Rohan Shotton, 10 December 2017

Carlo Rizzi conducts The Hallé in a programme of inventive and thrilling approaches to Resoighi, Rachmaninov and Rossini at Bridgewater Hall.

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Manchester

10 Dec 2017

Novel approaches to old favourites

By Rohan Shotton

Boston

Toothsome Delights: Sierra, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov with the Boston Symphony

By Kevin Wells, 05 October 2017

An infectious contemporary work by Sierra sits comfortably with Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky.

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Boston

05 Oct 2017

Toothsome Delights with the Boston Symphony

By Kevin Wells

Gateshead

Glass and Rachmaninov: Experiments in relativity by the RLPO at The Sage

By Jane Shuttleworth, 30 September 2017

Symphonies by Glass and Rachmaninov played by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra show how time doesn't always flow at the same rate.

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Gateshead

30 Sep 2017

Experiments in relativity by the RLPO

By Jane Shuttleworth

London

Proms 37/38: A whiff of incense as Dausgaard and the Latvians explore Rachmaninov and religion

By Mark Pullinger, 13 August 2017

Rachmaninov was not an especially religious man, yet he composed religious music, most famously the haunting All-Night Vigil (or Vespers) which was the climax to this evening's two Proms.

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London

13 Aug 2017

A whiff of incense as the Proms explore Rachmaninov and religion

By Mark Pullinger

Cleveland

Vasily Petrenko makes Cleveland Orchestra debut with thrilling Rachmaninov

By Timothy Robson, 29 July 2017

Pianist David Fray was equally impressive as soloist in a subtly played Mozart Concerto no. 24.

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Cleveland

29 Jul 2017

Petrenko makes thrilling Cleveland debut

By Timothy Robson

London

Full-on romantics: Tasmin Little lyrical in Tchaikovsky with Christoph König and RPO

By Mark Thomas, 04 May 2017

Big sounds were on display as Christoph König and the RPO powered through Rachmaninov and Wagner, with a measured and flowing Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto from Tasmin Little.

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London

04 May 2017

Full-on romantics at Cadogan Hall

By Mark Thomas

Hong Kong

Grandeur and opulence in Oslo Philharmonic's Rachmaninov at the Hong Kong Arts Festival

By Alan Yu, 14 March 2017

The Oslo Philharmonic offers a spirited interpretation of fine nuance and a sense of grandeur and opulence in Rachmaninov's Second Symphony.

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Hong Kong

14 Mar 2017

Grandeur and opulence in Oslo Phil's Rachmaninov

By Alan Yu

London

Atmosphere? The Adagios have it aplenty: the LPO under Andrés Orozco-Estrada

By Alexander Hall, 30 November 2016

The London Philharmonic Orchestra under Andrés Orozco-Estrada explore Romanticism in Weber and Rachmaninov, with Juian Bliss providing a classical contrast in Mozart's clarinet concerto.

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London

30 Nov 2016

Atmosphere? The Adagios have it aplenty

By Alexander Hall

Houston

Another dimension: Trifonov embraces Schumann in Houston

By Sydney Boyd, 03 November 2016

Fluidity defines Daniil Trifonov's style, even while he navigates different realities.

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Houston

03 Nov 2016

Trifonov embraces Schumann in Houston

By Sydney Boyd

Vancouver

Lush indulgence: Berg and Rachmaninov from Karina Canellakis and the Vancouver Symphony

By Kevin W Ng, 17 October 2016

Karen Gomyo and the Vancouver Symphony present a ravishingly romantic programme of Berg and Rachmaninov

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Vancouver

17 Oct 2016

Lush indulgence: Berg and Rachmaninov in Vancouver

By Kevin W Ng

Edinburgh

Russian classics make for a great RSNO season opener in Edinburgh

By Julie Jozwiak, 07 October 2016

Two great pieces were on the programme for RSNO's first concert of the season: a delightful evening from the beginning to the end!

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Edinburgh

07 Oct 2016

A great RSNO season opener in Edinburgh

By Julie Jozwiak

Sydney

Lyrical touch and immaculate phrasing: Nelson Freire's Schumann with the Sydney Symphony

By Zoltán Szabó, 23 September 2016

Take an overture from the Classical period, add a Romantic concerto and finish with a major work from the 20th century – a tried and proven concoction for a balanced orchestral concert. If these works follow a chronological order and become increasingly longer, so much the better.

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Sydney

23 Sep 2016

Lyrical touch and immaculate phrasing

By Zoltán Szabó

London

Questions answered by Sir Simon Rattle and the LSO

By Chris Garlick, 30 June 2016

Ives, Beethoven and Rachmaninov rounding off the season in full-blooded performances by the LSO conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.

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London

30 Jun 2016

Questions answered by Sir Simon Rattle and the LSO

By Chris Garlick

Basingstoke

Foot on the accelerator: speedy Rachmaninov from the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra in Basingstoke

By David Truslove, 15 May 2016

This Anvil concert revealed a “two sides of the same coin” quality from an illustrious orchestra that left a mixed, but mostly favourable impression.

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Basingstoke

15 May 2016

Foot on the accelerator: speedy Rachmaninov in Basingstoke

By David Truslove