RPO: Alexandra Tirsu plays Prokofiev

The young Prokofiev wrote his First Violin Concerto in an age of revolution, but you’d never guess – it’s practically a fairy-tale in sound. And with her ravishing sound and lightning-fast fingers, there’s no more stylish interpreter than the Moldovan violinist Alexandra Tirsu – especially when she’s accompanied by conductor Eun Sun Kim (“a major star” – The New York Times).

Lili Boulanger’s vibrant and playful march, written around the same time as the Prokofiev, makes for an energetic opening; meanwhile, Sergei Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony is the orchestral equivalent of a blockbuster movie – a sweeping emotional drama, filled with winter storms, huge sunlit vistas and mile after mile of unforgettable melodies. Is this the ultimate romantic symphony? All we know is that it sounds wonderful, and we can’t wait to share it.

“Kim’s precise and picturesque gestures brought colour, drive, dynamic variety and nuance to Rachmaninov.” (Bachtrack)