Icons Rediscovered: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra present two captivating masterpieces by Rachmaninov and Elgar.
A concert of two characters, equally icons to be explored just like the composers within this series. Written in the twilight years of his career, Rachmaninov first put pen to paper in the summer of 1934 for what would become one of his most beloved works.
Pitting piano against orchestra, Rachmaninov takes all the hellish fire of dazzling violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini, turning his little melody on its head to create something entirely new, with the magical Variation 18 being the stand-out movement.
And then the concert takes a Shakespearean turn with Elgar’s symphonic poem Falstaff. In what Elgar considered to be one of his finest orchestral works, he paints a vivid musical portrait of the anti-hero of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, with colourful orchestrations and characterful depictions.
Performers
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Vasily Petrenko conductor
Alexander Malofeev piano
Repertoire
Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Elgar: Falstaff
Need to know
Please note that there is no interval during this performance.
For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
Plan your visit
The Royal Festival Hall is home to our largest auditorium as well as The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe and Skylon restaurant.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.