2/5. With Donald Macleod. Following the success of his one-act student opera Aleko and graduation from the Moscow Conservatory in 1892, Rachmaninov began his composing career. But the 1897 premiere of his first symphony was savaged by the critics, and the devastated composer was put off composition for the next two years.

The Chorus of Spirits - Russian State Symphonic Cappella

Do Not Sing to Me Fair Maiden, Op 4 No 4 - Alexandre Naoumenko (tenor), Howard Shelley (piano)

Cello Sonata in G minor, Op 19 (2nd mvt) - Moray Welsh, Martin Roscoe (piano)

Spring - Tigram Martyrosyan (bass), Russian State Symphonic Capella, Russian State SO, conductor Valery Poliansky

Symphony No 2 in E minor (3rd mvt) - Philharmonia, conductor Kurt Sanderling

Were You Hiccupping, Natasha? - Sergei Leiferkus (bass), Howard Shelley (piano)

(Repeated on Monday at 12 midnight)