Start the new year with a journey through the rich emotional landscape of Russian music in Russian Winters & Daydreams. This concert offers variety, charm and passion, all delivered with flair.

The programme begins not with an overture, but with Stravinsky's Pulcinella Suite – a sparkling and quirky blend of 18th-century grace and 20th-century bite. Drawn from music attributed to Pergolesi, this neoclassical gem surprises with wit, elegance and the occasional burst of modern spikiness.

Then we welcome acclaimed cellist Richard Harwood, making his RTWSO debut with Kabalevsky's Cello Concerto No. 1. Tuneful and engaging, the concerto is full of character – from the playful outer movements to the poignant slow section. Harwood's connection to this work is personal – it was his concerto debut at just ten years old.

The concert closes with Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 1 'Winter Daydreams', a work filled with melodic charm and Russian soul. Written early in his career, it evokes snowy landscapes, shimmering skies and the quiet beauty of winter. Despite Tchaikovsky's later inner turmoil, this symphony is light-filled and hopeful – especially in its spirited finale.

This concert is an invitation to reflect, dream and be transported by some of Russia's most evocative orchestral music.