Work: Piano Concerto no. 1 in F sharp minor, Op.1

The popular pianist performs all four of the Russian composer's piano concertos, plus his Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, over the course of two nights at Verizon Hall.

Vibrant colours and assured technique bring out the virtuosity of the Philharmonia, if lacking in emotional substance.

Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic continue their European tour at the Barbican, pairing Smetana's paean to his homeland with Rachmaninov's early piano concerto. 

Rimsky-Korsakov and Rachmaninov may be bread-and-butter repertoire for pianist Nikolai Lugansky and conductor Tugan Sokhiev, but the stellar presentation at this Berlin Philharmonic concert was Chausson's Symphony in B flat major.

After a humdrum reimagining of Paganini's 24th Caprice and an underwhelming Rachmaninov piano concerto, Slatkin triumphs with an august Copland 3.