Philharmonia Orchestra

Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov: The Enchanted Lake
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1
Interval
Sergey Prokofiev: Symphony No.5 in B flat

Vasily Petrenko conducts this Russian spectacular that includes Prokofiev's fiery Symphony No.2 and Liadov's The Enchanted Lake, alongside Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1 with soloist Nikolai Lugansky.

The first of two all-Russian spectaculars features the most popular piano concerto in the repertoire: a wild Cossack-ride through virtuoso territory that leaves audiences breathless in its wake. Incredibly, when Tchaikovsky first showed it to his mentor Nikolai Rubinstein, he was told that only 'two or three pages' were worth preserving.
Liadov's creative output reflects his life-long desire to escape from reality. 'Give me a fairy tale', he once said, 'a dragon, a water-sprite, a forest-demon - give me something unreal and I am happy.'

The premiere of Prokofiev's noble Fifth Symphony was all too real as the sound of cannon fire from outside the hall signalled the end of hostilities in the Second World War.

Philharmonia Orchestra
Vasily Petrenko conductor
Nikolai Lugansky piano