This special release marks 20 years of the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s acclaimed record label. To commemorate this milestone, the Orchestra will release a new album every two weeks throughout May and June 2025.

This release is the first of three major recordings featuring LPO Principal Conductor Edward Gardner during the period, including works by Britten, Dvořák, Schumann and more to follow later this year.

Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances (1940) is a powerful and evocative work, blending dance rhythms with profound emotional depth. Written during the composer’s final years, it reflects themes of life, death and resurrection, with references to the Dies irae chant and Russian Orthodox melodies. The London Philharmonic Orchestra has a rich history with Rachmaninov’s works, and this recording captured live in the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in March 2023 is an exceptional example of its artistry under Gardner’s direction, having been played extensively on their tour to Spain that month.

The Bells (1913) is a choral symphony based on Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, translated into Russian by Konstantin Balmont. It explores the journey of life through the imagery of bells, from the innocence of sleigh bells to the solemnity of funeral bells. The London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir brought this dramatic and richly textured work to life in September 2024 at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, showcasing their mastery of Rachmaninov’s challenging vocal and orchestral writing.

Kristina Mkhitaryan (soprano) has performed at the Royal Opera House, Metropolitan Opera and Vienna State Opera. This performance marked her debut with the LPO.

A celebrated Ukrainian tenor, Dmytro Popov has performed leading roles at major opera houses worldwide, including the Royal Opera House and Metropolitan Opera. He is a familiar collaborator with the LPO, having performed Verdi’s Requiem with them in the Royal Festival Hall in 2015 and again at the BBC Proms in 2018.

Known for his powerful performances in operas by Wagner and Verdi, Kostas Smoriginas (bass-baritone) has appeared at La Scala, the Royal Opera House and the Berlin State Opera. This concert was his debut with the LPO.

“Gardner excelled in making palpable a supreme element of Rachmaninov’s writing: its yearning, in touch with those myriad pools of human desire.” - Bachtrack (★★★★)

“This team executed [The Bells] with focused fire, Gardner managing all the stop-starts without ever losing the drive.” - The Arts Desk (★★★★★)

“The Bells created a rich, multidimensional performance full of fiery virtuosity, emotional depth and sweeping orchestral power.” - Artshub (★★★★½)