IT was an unforgettable evening of music at Bournemouth Pavilion on Saturday, but the work of one particular composer performed by the BSO and a spectacular young pianist was a concert in itself.

The Hall of Fame evening delivered a suitably A-list line-up of composers, with Mendelssohn first to be celebrated with a performance of his overture, Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage.

A peaceful, lulling start to the concert would later contrast with the tumultuous finale of Tchaikovsky’s iconic 1812 overture.

Having watched the BSO perform on a number of occasions, it was interesting to see the limelight move temporarily away from the orchestra and onto a visiting star.

The second performance of the evening brought Ukrainian pianist Anna Fedorova to the stage to play Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2.

The build-up of anticipation prior to those first few notes being played quickly turned into sheer joy as the Russian composer’s rousing first movement was performed with equal gusto by Fedorova.

Then the blissful second movement arrived, and the pianist delivered a beautiful performance, combining delicacy and passion in every phrase.

I expected the evening to have peaked with the concerto, but after the interval the orchestra and conductor Stephen Barlow returned with two sumptuous pieces from Khachaturian and Smetana – the former was famously used as the theme for the 70s BBC drama The Onedin Line.

And not forgetting that fiery finale from Tchaikovsky, which left the sound of ‘canon fire’ reverberating in our ears afterwards.