Rattle: Roots & Origins

Sir Simon Rattle conducts Brahms and Rachmaninov, a programme lush and stormy in equal measure.

It’s not hard to see why the Romantics found the sort of civilised passion contained in this programme so irresistible. Distant horn calls open Brahms’ Piano Concerto No 2, evolving into music that’s yearning, heartfelt and grand. For the pianist, the finale is both challenging and playful, capping things off with light-hearted gypsy melodies.

One of Rachmaninov’s most popular pieces, his Symphony No 2 is an indulgently melancholic and sentimental work. Dramatic sections played by the full orchestra contrast heart-breaking swells that only this composer could have written.