Gergiev’s Scriabin, London Symphony Orchestra, Barbican

We can’t decide which in this three-part concert series is the best, so we recommend living abstemiously for the next two weeks and booking for all three. Each of these fantastic concerts sees conductor Valery Gergiev lead his London Symphony Orchestra through the complete symphonies of Alexander Scriabin amongst piano concerti by Chopin and Liszt, and orchestral pieces by Messiaen. Award-winning pianists Daniil Trifonov and Denis Matsuev will take on solo roles for the Chopin and the Liszt respectively, completing a triumverate of world- class Russian talent.

Gergiev needs no introduction. Renowned for his passionate conducting style and his fondness for toothpicks, Gergiev is one of the world’s greatest living conductors. He has a particular skill for interpreting Russian symphonies, so if you need any more justification for booking, a programme dominated by the works of Scriabin will certainly not disappoint. 

Another performer to watch out for is the young wunderkind pianist Daniil Trifonov who performs mindbogglingly alongside Gergiev in the final concert. Having played with more than thirty major orchestras worldwide despite his tender twenty-three years, Trifonov is one of the classical music world’s next superstars. Catch him in April for one of those “I was there” moments.

But we’re particularly looking forward to seeing the complete symphonies of Scriabin. The composer’s symphonic output spans his career in its entirety, and listening to all of them in one sitting lets the listener trace the extraordinary narrative of his compositional development, from Symphony No. 1, which recalls Chopin and Tchaikovsky, through to the dissonant sonorities of Symphony No. 5, ‘Poem of Fire’. 

It’s a true privilege to have Gergiev lead us on this fascinating journey, and tickets are selling out very quickly indeed, so get booking before you miss your chance!