Rossini’s bright and sunny overture preludes one of the most famous and popular of all concertos, suffused with the sun-drenched melodies and balmy atmosphere of southern Spain; its achingly beautiful slow movement is perhaps the most sublime pieces of music ever written. The Spanish passion continues with Chabrier’s dazzling rhapsody and Rimsky-Korsakov’s vibrant and colourful suite. In contrast, Borodin’s tone poem evokes the sweeping plains of central Asia, whilst nightmarish visions abound in Mussorgsky’s dark and brooding depiction of a Witches Sabbath.

Works and composers

Rossini The Barber of Seville Overture
Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez
Chabrier España
Mussorgsky A Night on the Bare Mountain
Borodin In the Steppes of Central Asia
Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio Espagnol