Rachmaninoff with Marc Corbett-Weaver

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 Tchaikovsky Symphony no. 5 in E minor, Op. 64

We head to Russia for two of most popular works of all time. The première of Rachmaninoff’s first symphony was a disaster (the old grump César Cui famously wrote: ‘If there were a conservatory in Hell, and if one of its talented students were to compose a programme symphony based on the story of the Ten Plagues of Egypt, and if he were to compose a symphony like Mr. Rachmaninoff’s, then he would have fulfilled his task brilliantly and would delight the inhabitants of Hell.’

Following this set-back, Rachmaninoff went into a great depression. He was helped out of this by a hypnotist and was determined subsequently to create a piece that would achieve success. The result is one of everyone’s most beloved pieces of the entire classical repertoire, Rachmaninoff’s adored Piano Concerto no. 2.

Our soloist is Firebird’s Artistic Director Marc Corbett-Weaver who has played the concerto across the UK including at London’s Cadogan Hall. Tchaikovsky’s Symphony no. 5 was first performed at the Mariinsky in St Petersburg with the composer conducting. Unlike the tragic Symphony no. 6, the fifth is filled with heroic optimism and has become a great favourite. Firebird’s George Jackson conducts.

London Firebird Orchestra Principal Guest Conductor George Jackson Piano Marc Corbett-Weaver