Tchaikovsky 2

The evening

Genius enjoys a challenge. Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto begins with a chord that was supposed to be impossible, though with a violinist as brilliant as RPO Artist-in-Residence Liya Petrova (‘Exquisite’: The Guardian), the impossible comes as standard. It’s the elegant jewel at the centre of a concert filled with melodies close to the heart of Ukrainian guest conductor Kirill Karabits. Some are unfamiliar – like the glowing colours and lush harmonies of Angel, a rarely-heard (well, in Britain anyway) masterwork by the Ukrainian composer Fyodor Akimenko. But others have never been more popular, and for a good reason. Ukrainian folk tunes inspired Tchaikovsky’s colourful ‘Little Russian’ Symphony. But the emotion – and the magic – is entirely his own, and it’ll make you want to dance.