Work: Eugene Onegin: Letter Scene

Vassily Sinaisky, Natalya Romaniw and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra take a crude, casual approach to music by Tchaikovsky and Beethoven.

With duets from Pique Dame and Iolanta, along with set pieces from Eugene Onegin, this gala was packed with Russian passion. 

Semyon Bychkov produces a gripping and soul-searching Shostakovich Eighth while soprano Elena Stikhina makes an impressive UK debut in Tchaikovsky.