Russian State Philharmonic Orchestra, Valentina Lisitsa

Programme:
Tchaikovsky - Excerpts from The Nutcracker
Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No. 2
Interval
Tchaikovsky - Sleeping Beauty Suite
Tchaikovsky - Excerpts from Swan Lake
Tchaikovsky - Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture

You can’t have missed the buzz around Valentina Lisitsa, whose 83 million Youtube hits and hundreds of thousands of online fans have made her an internet sensation, and one of the most-watched pianists in musical history. But the real marvel is her playing; when she recorded Rachmaninoff’s piano concertos, BBC Music Magazine praised her 'genuine Russian-school weightiness and transcendental, glittering runs'.

Tonight, she performs Rachmaninoff’s Second Concerto, and with the Russian State Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Valery Polyansky, this should be far more than just a Brief Encounter with this best-loved of all Russian concertos! It’s set like a jewel amongst highlights from all three of Tchaikovsky’s great ballets. Enjoy the romance of Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and of course The Nutcracker, before falling into the arms of Romeo and Juliet: some of the most passionate music even Tchaikovsky ever wrote.

This will be an evening for big emotions – so bring a hankie!