Stravinsky The Firebird

The evening

The darkness lies heavily on the demon-king Kastchei’s shadow kingdom – so heavily that you can almost hear it and feel the air shimmer. Suddenly, there’s a flash, and with a dazzling cascade of sound, an adventure begins. Stravinsky’s The Firebird is one of the great musical fairytales; a story that Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are delighted to retell tonight. And there’s a reason why Grieg’s Piano Concerto is one of the world’s favourites, too. Melodies this good always feel fresh, and never fresher than when they’re played by Eric Lu – the multi-award-winning pianist who’s taking the world by storm. First, though, ancient passions burn beneath the tranquillity of the English countryside in Butterworth’s haunting rhapsody. This should be something special.