With its evocation of frogs and crickets croaking by the Nile and drawing upon the sounds of Nubian folk song, Saint-Saëns conjures a vibrant and romantic memory of Egypt. Acclaimed pianist Perianes brings each scene to life in dazzling colour.

The William Tell Overture is one of the most thrilling ever written. As this famous piece gallops to its conclusion, you’ll understand why Rossini is considered a master of getting an audience excited.

Shostakovich lived a tumultuous life, and on the surface his Fifteenth Symphony seems mired in introspection. But his humour always shines through, from the glockenspiel that opens this symphony to his mischievous reference to Rossini’s Overture. In a concert that swings between darkness and light, Shostakovich captures everything it is to be human.