The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra opens its 2019-20 series at Cadogan Hall with stunning works that evoke the colours of the landscapes that inspired them.

Raising the curtain is Smetana’s Vltava from Má Vlast (My country), a symphonic poem portraying a morning on Prague’s Moldau river, in which the dancing playfulness of the flutes and unique glimmer of the strings give the piece an irresistible charm.

Following is Elgar’s Cello Concerto, a staple of English Romanticism performed by renowned cellist and RPO Artist in Residence 2019, Kian Soltani. The beautifully stark opening statement from the soloist sets the tone of the work’s emotional core that has not lost any of its impact nearing the 100th anniversary of its premiere.

Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 leans heavily on the natural folk rhythms of his homeland to paint a picture-perfect summer in Bohemia. Thunderstorms of brass and timpani interrupt at choice moments that heighten the atmosphere’s tension, but never overstay their welcome to dampen the buoyant and strongly optimistic tone of the Symphony.