Nephew of the famous Russian-American musicologist Nicolas Slonimsky, Sergei is one of the leading contemporary Russian composers. He was born in St. Petersburg and teaches at the Conservatoire there. He has written 13 symphonies, six operas, and a ballet as well as smaller pieces. His Toccata reflects his interest in Russian folk music and its darker writers such as Dostoyevsky; one can imagine a horde of Cossacks in a wild dance, full of foot-stamping and great leaps.

Program notes © 2009, Dame Gillian Weir