St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra

Liadov’s colourful miniatures are like musical Fabergé eggs. His talents are shown to the full in the ‘fantastic scherzo’ Kikimora, which vividly depicts a malevolent character from Russian folklore. Prokofiev’s second violin concerto was written in the same summer as the ballet Romeo and Juliet, and shares its drama and lyricism. The tender slow movement is one of the composer's most beautiful, while the finale is an exuberant dance. Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony has probably been written about more than the other five combined, but whatever its significance to the composer, its overwhelming emotional impact is not in doubt. This orchestra gave the piece its premiere, conducted by the composer nine days before his death, and it retains a special place in its repertoire.

This concert is also available on subscription. Please contact the box office for more details.