Sinfonia of London: Scheherezade

Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 grabs your attention and pulls at your heartstrings from the moment you hear its distinctive opening chords. Brimming with memorable melodies, its position as one of the world’s most popular pieces of classical music is well deserved. Tonight it’s in the hands of some of the best in the business: pianist Benjamin Grosvenor and John Wilson’s Sinfonia of London have a galaxy’s-worth of five-star reviews between them. Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade is another worthy audience favourite. A seductive solo violin melody represents the clever bride whose tales mesmerise her husband the Sultan for 1001 nights. Every member of the orchestra gets the chance to shine in Scheherazade’s vivid tales of seas and shipwrecks, princes and princesses. As a starter for this musical feast, get to know the 1948 Concerto for String Orchestra by ‘the First Lady of Polish Music’, Grażyna Bacewicz, full of panache and energy. Programme Grażyna Bacewicz Concerto for String Orchestra Sergei Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No 2 Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherezade Performers John Wilson conductor Benjamin Grosvenor piano Sinfonia of London