Prom 48: Rachmaninov & Prokofiev

Rachmaninov’s mighty Symphony No. 2 sits at the centre of this concert given by Cristian Măcelaru and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. From a brooding opening it moves through a lovely slow movement to an ecstatic close – one of the most triumphant in the repertoire. There’s more drama and still greater virtuosity in Prokofiev’s demanding Piano Concerto No. 2, performed here by 2015 Chopin International Piano Competition winner Seong-Jin Cho. The concert opens with the folk-inspired Three Pieces for strings by the Romanian composer-conductor Constantin Silvestri, who defected to the West in 1956 and died in London 50 years ago.