Czech Philharmonic/Semyon Bychkov: Vltava, Rachmaninoff Paganini & Symphony No 2

The second evening of the Czech Philharmonic’s residency is brimming with blockbuster tunes that will stir your soul whether it’s your first experience of live orchestral music or your 500th. ‘What I try to do when writing down my music is to make it say simply and directly that which is in my heart when I am composing’, said Rachmaninoff. Many fans would be hard-pressed to choose between Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and his Second Symphony - tonight they can have both. Seong-Jin Cho follows in Rachmaninoff’s footsteps as soloist in a monumental set of variations showcasing every aspect of his skill. Strength and speed, poise and passion, delicacy and power, all have their moments in this pinnacle of the piano repertoire. And first comes Smetana’s Vltava from Má vlast— awarded BBC Music Magazine’s 2025 Orchestral Recording of the Year — a Czech national treasure, tracing the eponymous river from its bubbling source through the countryside, until it flows majestically through Prague. Programme Bedřich Smetana Vltava from Má vlast Sergei Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Sergei Rachmaninoff Symphony No 2 Performers Czech Philharmonic Semyon Bychkov conductor Seong-Jin Cho piano