Performer: Freddy Kempf

The St Petersburg Philharmonic unleash all the unstoppable forces of Russian excess in a programme of Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev at Sage Gateshead.

Manchester's highly polished Northern Chamber Orchestra is joined by Freddy Kempf to deliver a highly enjoyable performance, full of vim and vigour.

With a smaller programme and a humbler premise, the stars of the show – those young, immensely talented performers – could have shone even brighter