Rpo: Tchaikovsky 2

Folksongs, fantasies and glorious Tchaikovsky from Kirill Karabits and violinist Liya Petrova.Genius enjoys a challenge.

Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto begins with a chord that was supposed to be impossible, though with a violinist as brilliant as RPO Artist-in-Residence Liya Petrova (“exquisite”, The Guardian), the impossible comes as standard.It’s the elegant jewel at the centre of a concert filled with melodies close to the heart of Ukrainian guest conductor Kirill Karabits.

Some are unfamiliar – like the glowing colours and lush harmonies of Angel, a rarely-heard (well, in Britain anyway) masterwork by the Ukrainian composer Fyodor Akimenko.But others have never been more popular, and for a good reason.

Ukrainian folk tunes inspired Tchaikovsky’s colourful ‘Little Russian’ Symphony.

But the emotion – and the magic – is entirely his own, and it’ll make you want to dance.