If the overture or the first work played in a concert sets the scene then Liadov's short Kikimora gave us a slow and sombre beginning - enough to remind us that we were hearing Russia's longest established orchestra.
The composer was born in St Petersburg in 1855 and although highly talented failed to develop his career with any large scale works. Instead he wrote songs and short instrumental pieces. Kikimora was a witch who haunted the homes of Russian peasants with her whistling and cacking. The sophisticated music, after its slow start, speeds up and depicts the busy-ness of her supernatural travels - and, at the very end, we hear her brief but poignant whistle.
Nikolai Lugansky, born in Moscow 42 years ago, was a welcome visitor back to the Usher Hall for Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 3. He plays with energy but also grace and a quiet confidence and so is easy and a delight to watch. Rachmaninov wrote the concerto to play the piano solo himself in 1909 as he was about to visit the United States.
The St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra came on stage at the last moment and its leader, or concertmaster followed to applause. On their return after the interval he led them on, and indeed led them off at the end. Their Concertmaster is memorable for Lev Klychkov is not only the tallest of them all but has long flowing carefully prepared grey hair which needed a little tuck every so often. He seemed to shun the applause at the end of Shostakovich's Symphony No 10 for his short solo parts as if it was all in a day's work.
A enjoyable and solid evening of Russian music under the baton of highly respected but reluctant to smile Yuri Temirkanov.
Concert: Sunday 2nd November 2014 at 7.30pm