Performer: Vadim Repin

Stéphane Denève leads The Philadelphia Orchestra through transcendent Strauss and apocalyptic Ravel.

Superstar husband-and-wife team, renowned violinist Vadim Repin and "tsarina of the dance" Svetlana Zakharova, go on a date and take us with them. The music fared much better than the ballet.

Following some rhythmically challenged Ginastera, Horia Andreescu and the Russian National Orchestra impress with confidently played MacMillan and Tchaikovsky.

Two repertoire works and the lesser known Lemminkäinen Suite made for an attractive all-Sibelius programme

Fiery Janáček and Lalo tempered by autumnal Brahms in Sydney in a concert which turned the usual structure on its head. 

The UK-Russian Cultural Year is launched in London by the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio, in a programme of Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich.