Conductor: Jonathan Brett
Soloist: Freddy Kempf, Piano

Khachaturian Spartacus Suite
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 1 in C minor
Tchaikovsky Symphony No 4 in F Minor

The mighty Russian orchestras produce a quite distinctive and thrilling sound, and we are delighted to include two of them in this concert series. First off is the Moscow Philharmonic appearing under the dynamic English conductor Jonathan Brett, described by the Independent as 'brillantly exuberant'.

Their programme opens with Aram Khachaturian's best-loved work, his music for the ballet Spartacus, which juxtaposes glorious lyricism with frenetic drama. Now forever linked with the BBC TV series The Onedin Line, the work enjoys enormous popularity in its own right.

Having thrilled audiences with his reading of Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto in the last series, Freddy Kempf now tackles the composer's ultra-romantic Second Concerto (used to such atmospheric effect in David Lean's classic film Brief Encounter). Since winning the BBC Young of the Year Competition in 1992, Kempf has established himself as an outstanding pianist of international repute.

This concert comes to a barnstorming finale with Tchaikovsky's powerful Fourth Symphony. This gives the brass section plenty to do, not least in the resounding fanfare that opens the work and returns towards the end (incidentally, this featured as the theme tune to the 1970 mini-series Ivanhoe - just to complete the hat trick of film/TV theme tunes!). Another wonderful touch is the third movement scherzo, marked pizzicato ostinato, which gives the strings the chance to show their dexterity.

PRE-CONCERT TALKS
Why not join music writer and critic James Day for fascinating and informative talks about the programme before each concert. Talk will take place at the Maple Suite, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 20 Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DT at 6.00pm