RPO: Vasily Petrenko conducts Beethoven 5

Beethoven’s earth-shattering Fifth Symphony crowns an evening of drama and virtuosity. Vasily Petrenko conducts the symphony that redefined classical music — a white‑knuckle journey from despair to triumph, launched by the famous four-note “fate” motif. The programme opens with A Bewitched Place by Nadezhda Rimskaya‑Korsakova, her last work before marrying Nikolai Rimsky‑Korsakov, followed by Prokofiev’s daredevil Second Piano Concerto, written to showcase his own formidable skills. “Pristine, lyrical and intelligent” (The New York Times), Jan Lisiecki is the ideal soloist for Prokofiev’s dazzling score.

Programme: Nadezhda Rimskaya-Korsakova – A Bewitched Place (world premiere); Prokofiev – Piano Concerto No. 2; Beethoven – Symphony No. 5

Performers: Vasily Petrenko (conductor), Jan Lisiecki (piano), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra