Music has the ability to stir the emotions like no other art form - and Russian musicians seem to have the ability to tap into another level of the emotional spectrum.
The Russian State Philhar-monic Orchestra's visit to Bradford was an opportunity to hear the full intensity of Tchaikovsky and Rachmani-nov played as the composers' intended.
Conductor Valery Poliansky brings the most out of the members of the orchestra with a gentle touch and piano soloist Konstantin Sherbakov felt to touch the soul with Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini.
Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 6, the Pathetique, was performed with such feeling that the St George's Hall audience were reduced to silence at the close, before bursting into rapturous applause.
They knew they had seen and heard a very special performance after Bradford had once again played host to one of the world's top orchestras.
John Heald
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