Romantic grandeur and dramatic flair close our 2024/25 season in Bedford.

Bursting with more memorable melodies than many composers write in a lifetime, Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto is arguably the most popular in classical music history. Jeneba Kanneh-Mason made her Philharmonia debut with the piece in 2022, a performance in which she was praised for her ‘poetry and confidence’ (The Guardian). She returns tonight to win the hearts of our audience in Bedford.

Young British conductor – and Classic FM Rising Star – Tess Jackson makes her Philharmonia debut, completing the programme with Tchaikovsky’s explosive Symphony No. 4. A musical depiction of Fate, written after a period of personal turmoil, it’s a powerful exploration of the meaning of life. From deceptively simple melodies, Tchaikovsky builds a spellbinding forty minutes of high emotional drama.