Tchaikovsky, master of beautiful melodies, wrote his Romeo and Juliet – Fantasy Overture after Shakespeare’s work of the same name, exploring the bitter clash between two families. The composer’s superbly crafted melodies express the deeply felt emotion of the story.

Perhaps most famous in recent memory from its use in the 1980 film Somewhere in Time , Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini was composed in 1934 and first performed the same year with the composer himself at the piano. The enduring beauty of the work made it an instant success and it has enjoyed popularity with audiences ever since.

Rachmaninoff’s rhapsody is in reality a theme-and-variations piece, but even here he makes use of the ‘Dies’ Irae theme he so often employs, creating both beauty and conflict in the work. The eighteenth variation stands out as one of the most famous and melodious moments in the composition.

In his seventh symphony, Beethoven makes use of the classical tradition in elements like a Haydnesque introduction and Mozartean rhythm to present a work that expands to express the Romantic spirit. The liveliness of the piece, perhaps most notable in the finale, moved Wagner to describe the work as “the apotheosis of the dance.”

Beethoven’s seventh has featured widely in the media, appearing in everything from Japan’s Nodame Cantabile to the film The King’s Speech , where the second movement is heard in the climax of the film.

Russian pianist Alexei Volodin is winner of the 2003 Concours Géza Anda piano competition, among many other accolades. He studied at both the Gnessin Academy and the Moscow Conservatoire, and on this occasion he will be presenting an iconic Russian favorite.

A recipient of France’s "Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" in 2007, Yip Wing-sie is a leading female conductor in Asia, known for her strong expressive power. This program of three composers from three eras speaks for itself, expressing varied but deeply felt emotion that will surely resonate with all audiences.