Yuri Temirkanov conducts Beethoven and Prokofiev – With Leonidas Kavakos

In this grand symphonic concert, the Russian conductor will also be working with his musicians from the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra.

Leonidas Kavakos is one of the most sensational violinists of the day, highly sought-after for his virtuosity, rare musical qualities and the integrity of his playing. He sees the instrument as his 'voice', and having found the right instrument would find it almost impossible to change it.

Famous since his triumphs at the Sibelius Competition in 1985 and the Paganini Competition three years later, and, incidentally, an admirer of Plato, he has been invited to appear at all the major venues worldwide. For this concert at Annecy Classic Festival, he will perform Beethoven's famous Concerto in D.

The second part of the concert will showcase excerpts from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. For many of us, Prokofiev is mostly celebrated as the creator of Peter and the Wolf and Romeo and Juliet. And with good reason because in these works he manages to deploy the full extent of his gifts for melody, forever enthralling young and old.

Composed in 1935, Romeo and Juliet was the first major ballet in Prokofiev's Soviet period. It was also the first choreographic adaption of a play by Shakespeare that has lasted to the present day. While waiting for the ballet to be premiered, Prokofiev drew two orchestral suites from the score. A third, less often played, was written in 1944 while Prokofiev was finishing another famous ballet, Cinderella.

Leonidas Kavakos appears courtesy of Decca.

Photo: © Yannick Perrin.