Vasily Petrenko and Simon Trpceski

The Philharmonia Orchestra under Vasily Petrenko make tonight's opening gambit with Shostakovich's rousing Festive Overture, composed in 1954 for the thirty-seventh anniversary of the October Revolution, and allegedly celebrating the death of Stalin the year before. Also on the bill are Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No 2 with Macedonian pianist Simon Trpceski; and Sibelius's grandiose Symphony No 2. (Note: at 6pm there is a pre-concert talk. Admission is free.)