Tchaikovsky From St Petersburg

The St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra is Russia’s oldest and most legendary orchestra, conducted by Tchaikovsky himself for the first performance of his tragic Pathétique Symphony. In tonight’s concert, this most emotional of all Russian works is heard next to the autumnal melancholy of Elgar’s cello concerto, in the hands of the wonderful Dutch cellist Quirine Viersen.

Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight’s recommended concert:
I was lucky enough to see the St Petersburg Philharmonic and Yuri Temirkanov perform live in their home city a couple of years back. They’re an absolutely stunning orchestra to see (and hear) in action. Included in tonight’s programme is a short piece by the St Petersburg-born composer, Anatoli Liadov. Poor old Liadov was the composer who, unwittingly, changed the course of musical history by not writing something. It was he who was first approached by the maestro, Sergei Diaghilev, to write the score for a new ballet called The Firebird. Unfortunately for Liadov, he couldn’t get the score done in time and so the job went to one Igor Stravinsky instead.

Classic FM

6.15pm pre-concert talk

£5-£37.50

We regret that due to illness Maestro Yuri Temerikanov has cancelled his engagements and is unable to appear with the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra at SH on Tuesday 14 October. We are delighted that Yan Pascal Tortelier, Conductor Laureate of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, has agreed to stand in at short notice. The orchestra, programme and soloist remain unchanged

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