Stockport residents are in for a cultural treat on 24 June as a selection of classical music from eastern Europe will be played at the town hall. 

Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No.2 takes the headline, with Sibelius' Symphony No.2 and Glinka's Russlan & Ludmilla also featuring in the lineup. Performances will feature conductor Robert Guy and pianist Giulia Contaldo.

Rachmaninoff's work is famous for Its song-like melodicism, expressiveness, dense contrapuntal (or harmonic) textures, and rich orchestral colours. 

Jean Sibelius was a late romantic composer, widely regarded as the Finland's best ever composer. 

The early 19th century composer Mikhail Glinka, meanwhile, is considered by many to be the fountainhead of Russian classical music.

According to a description on the Stockport Symphony Orchestra website: "Rachmaninov's second piano concerto; is this the only music ever dedicated to a composer's hypnotist? 

"After the poor reception his first concerto received, Rachmaninov underwent treatment including hypnotherapy for his depression and creative block and in gratitude dedicated this work to his therapist.

"The second concerto, of course, was a huge success and has ever since been at the very top of everyone's favourite pieces of all time. It has been a regular No.1 in Classic FM's annual charts and is the overall No.1 in the aggregated chart. 

"Giulia Contaldo became a smash hit when she stepped in to play a BBC Phil concert on two days' notice in 2022. We think you are going to love her.

"Sibelius 2 was premiered in 1902, and became one of Sibelius' most popular works. The triumphant finale with its soaring, heroic music led the Symphony to be labelled as the 'Symphony of Independence'. 

"It is doubtful that was the composer's intention, however, much of the music having been conceived as a sketch for a work based on Don Juan during an Italian holiday!"

(Orchestra image by Paco, licensed under CC Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic)