Synopsis
In tonight’s all-Rachmaninov Prom prize-winning pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk makes his Proms debut in the composer’s demanding Third Piano Concerto (continuing our cycle of the composer’s complete piano concertos), while the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra steps into the spotlight for the mercurial Second Symphony, with its hauntingly beautiful Adagio and impassioned finale. The Latvian Radio Choir complements each work with Russian Orthodox chant, illuminating these blazing orchestral works with the hypnotic sound-world that seeped into Rachmaninov’s works (including, possibly, the opening ‘Russian Hymn’ theme of the Third Concerto). These chants also formed the basis of Rachmaninov’s glorious All-Night Vigil (Vespers), which follows in this evening’s Late Night Prom.