Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto in Edinburgh
15:00
Sun 8 Feb 2026
Usher Hall, Edinburgh

A piano climbing from darkness to light. A pulsing rhythm, bright with energy and colour. And a passionate melody, soaring against a storm-swept sky. The opening of any piece of music draws you into a new emotional world, and however familiar the melodies that follow, a great live performance makes you feel like you’re experiencing it for the first time.
That’s certainly the case when guest conductor Gemma New conducts the 鶹 SSO, described by The Scotsman as “one to watch”. Together with pianist Alessio Bax, she’ll bring something wholly new to Rachmaninov’s most popular piano concerto. To open, two postcards from America: Barber’s symphonic testament to an age of anxiety, and John Adams’ supercharged fanfare.