Rachmaninoff's 3rd Symphony

The evening

A thoroughly enjoyable time is guaranteed with this concert. In case you need persuading further, when Stravinsky was asked to provide music for a ballet featuring elephants, he merely asked whether they were young enough to dance. After its premiere, critics were baffled by, and even downright rude about, Prokofiev’s third piano concerto. But this dazzling work, the solo part of which Prokofiev called ‘devilish’, has become his most popular concerto. The brilliant Tomos Boyles, winner of the Dudley Piano competition, tackles the ‘devilish’ solo part. Rachmaninoff’s final symphony is a lyrical and slightly mysterious work, suave and surprising by turn. Award-winning conductor Bertie Baigent has a ball with this joyful, exuberant programme.