Santtu and Alena Baeva

Hailed as “a magnetic presence” by New York Classical Review, Alena Baeva joins the Philharmonia Orchestra for Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, a work of striking contrasts and emotional depth. Lyrical, long-breathed melodies fill the first two movements, but the violin’s singing lines are tinged with darkness, and give way to a stumbling dance in the finale.

Rachmaninov’s brilliant Symphonic Dances are a masterclass in orchestral writing, giving every instrument from the tiny piccolo to the growling contrabassoon the chance to shine. Maybe aware that this would be his last completed work, Rachmaninov quotes passages from his First Symphony, and writes a soulful melody for a relative newcomer to the orchestra, the alto saxophone.

Stravinsky’s ballet The Fairy’s Kiss was written as a ‘compatriotic homage’ to Tchaikovsky. Melodies from Tchaikovsky’s songs and piano pieces are transformed by Stravinsky’s touch, their sweetness and lyricism given a distinctive twentieth-century twist. 

Please note change of artist: due to her ongoing recovery from a double pinched nerve, Hilary Hahn is no longer able to join us for this performance. We are very grateful to Alena Baeva for stepping in at short notice.