Santtu and Nemanja Radulović

Violinist Nemanja Radulović, our Featured Artist this season, brings his characteristic warmth and flair to Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto. He’s a seasoned and much-admired performer of this concerto – his 2018 recording for Deutsche Grammophon topped the classical charts. He has all the virtuosity required for the folk-infused first movement, the soulfulness for the second movement’s melancholy song, and the panache for the fiery finale.

Tchaikovsky gave his First Symphony the title ‘Winter Daydreams’, and his individual movement titles summon up images of a journey through the snow, and a landscape shrouded in mist. Our Principal Conductor Santtu has a real affinity for Tchaikovsky’s music – he’ll be an illuminating guide through this work the composer affectionately referred to as “a sin of my sweet youth”.

Setting the tone for this evening’s concert are three movements from Khachaturian’s colourful ballet Gayaneh. Hold on to your hat for the exhilarating Sabre Dance, with its distinctive marimba melody and trombone glissandi.