You never know where inspiration will strike. For Dvořák, the sight of a train arriving in Prague station suggested the opening of his Seventh Symphony. Personal tragedy did the rest, and the result is one of the most stirring (and beautiful) of Romantic symphonies: tense, stormy and pounding with emotion. It’s a perfect match for guest conductor Adam Hickox, just as Brahms’ huge, sunlit Second Piano Concerto could have been written for the glorious sound and effortless brilliance of Pavel Kolesnikov – the award-winning piano virtuoso from Siberia who’s made his home in London, dazzling ears and stirring souls whenever he plays. And because genius loves company, it all starts with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – and the irrepressible overture to the perfect comic opera. “Kolesnikov’s playing combines great emotional intelligence with understated virtuosity: every shift in sonority and mood speaks volumes in interpretations that are consistently striking.” The Guardian