Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Programme
Gabriella Smith Field Guide
Grieg Piano Concerto
Sibelius Symphony No. 2
Performers
Kevin John Edusei conductor (RPO Conductor-in-Residence 2025-26)
Boris Giltburg piano
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
‘Titanic’ was how one critic described the playing of pianist Boris Giltburg, and they didn’t stop there: ‘Giltburg had enormous reserves of firepower – and of musing poetry, too – to open up whole worlds of feeling and imagination.’ Now imagine him bringing all his wizardry to one of the best-loved showpieces of all time – Grieg’s evergreen (and gloriously tuneful) Piano Concerto.
With an extra touch of magic from the RPO’s charismatic Conductor-in-Residence Kevin John Edusei, it’s the big heart of a concert that begins in California, with Gabriella Smith’s ingenious musical nature notebook and ends beneath the Northern Lights of Finland, as Sibelius’ mighty Second Symphony grows from tranquil beginnings to a soaring hymn of triumph. Prepare to be swept away.
“He made me listen to the music afresh… the whole trajectory of the piece became clearer. The audience’s reaction was fervent and impassioned, and rightly so.” Seen and Heard International on Boris Giltburg
RPO Annual Legacy Giving Concert
Duration: approx. 2 hours (incl. 20-minute interval)
Ticket Information
Tickets from £18 (prices subject to change)
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Future events in this series
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 2025-26 season
Join the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at its resident home, Cadogan Hall, for its new season: 15 concerts exploring favourite melodies, contemporary classics, new discoveries and sonic surprises. Series, ENCORE and group discounts available.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Midori plays Sibelius
Thursday 25 September 2025, 7.30pm
The RPO’s Principal Associate Conductor Alexander Shelley showcases the vibrant colours of the Orchestra in music by Richard Strauss and Joe Hisaishi, and soars high above the Nordic skies with violin legend Midori in Sibelius’ Violin Concerto.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Stravinsky’s The Firebird
Tuesday 30 September 2025, 7.30pm
Fairy tales and firebirds ignite the night. Let the RPO take you on an adventure beyond your imagination as Emilia Hoving conducts Stravinsky’s The Firebird, Ravel’s Mother Goose and Sibelius’ En Saga, alongside Alexandra Dariescu’s romantic...
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Boris Giltburg plays Grieg
Thursday 16 October 2025, 7.30pm
The RPO’s Conductor-in-Residence Kevin John Edusei sweeps us away with Sibelius’ mighty Second Symphony, moving from tranquil beginnings to a soaring hymn of triumph, and Boris Giltburg performs Grieg’s gloriously tuneful Piano Concerto.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Poulenc’s Gloria
Tuesday 11 November 2025, 7.30pm
Sacred music was never meant to be this much fun! A huge, irreverent shout of joy from the City of London Choir in Poulenc’s Gloria is preceded by masterpieces from Boulanger, Bizet and Debussy, and two musical letters from America from Barber.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Mendelssohn, Elgar & Wagner
Tuesday 25 November 2025, 7.30pm
Conductor Antony Hermus brings a fresh perspective to Mendelssohn’s Third Symphony, setting it against the sea spray and howling gales of Wagner’s great musical seascape, and Elgar’s Sea Pictures with the wonderful British contralto Jess Dandy....
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Christmas Cracker 2025
Saturday 6 December 2025, 3pm & 7.30pm
Christmas comes but once a year and here in Chelsea, there’s only one way to celebrate. Join the RPO in the festive splendour of Cadogan Hall for a real feast of Yuletide music, with well-loved songs, seasonal classics and a stocking full of tunes...
Valentine’s Opera Gala
with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Saturday 14 February 2026, 7.30pm
Treat the special people in your life to a night of opera and romance. Join the RPO, maestro Jordan de Souza and a glittering line-up of opera stars, for an endless banquet of soaring passion, tender emotions and melodies that go straight to your hea...
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Dvořák, Brahms & Mozart
Thursday 19 February 2026, 7.30pm
Pavel Kolesnikov brings his glorious sound and effortless brilliance to Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto alongside Dvořák’s stirring (and beautiful) Seventh Symphony and Mozart’s irrepressible Overture to The Marriage of Figaro. Adam Hickox cond...
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Strauss’ Four Last Songs
Thursday 26 February 2026, 7.30pm
Strauss poured all the colours of the sunset into his heart-rending Four Last Songs, sung here by the glorious voice of Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, and conductor Kevin John Edusei shares the intoxicating brilliance of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony...
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Alexandra Tirsu plays Prokofiev
Wednesday 4 March 2026, 7.30pm
Violinist Alexandra Tirsu brings her ravishing sound and lightning-fast fingers to Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto, followed by the sweeping emotional drama of Rachmaninov’s blockbuster Second Symphony, conducted by Eun Sun Kim.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 1
Tuesday 31 March 2026, 7.30pm
Conductor Nil Venditti makes a welcome return to conduct Rachmaninov’s passionate and inspired First Symphony, alongside an energetic opener from Rossini and Rubbra’s radiant jewel of a Piano Concerto, featuring Mark Bebbington.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir John Rutter conducts Reflections
Thursday 9 April 2026, 7.30pm
Experience musical history in the making as Sir John Rutter, the world’s best-loved living classical composer, conducts his piano concerto, performed by Steven Osborne, alongside a world premiere and two American classics from Bernstein and Copland...
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Makoto Ozone plays Gershwin
Wednesday 27 May 2026, 7.30pm
Few living pianists play Gershwin with more flair than our soloist, Japanese jazz legend Makoto Ozone. Conductor Kevin John Edusei pairs it with Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra and Ligeti's evocative Concert Românesc.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5
Wednesday 10 June 2026, 7.30pm
With its heartfelt melodies and blazing colours, Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony is the perfect finale to the RPO’s 2025-26 season, preceded by Britten’s powerful Violin Concerto, with Clara-Jumi Kang, and a delightful new miniature from Joe Hisai...
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