This episode of Classic Archive is devoted to Guennadi Rojdestvenski, one of the greatest performers of  Russian contemporary music.
But it is through a performance of Tchaïkovsky that we discover his unquestionable talent when he conducting the Leningrad Philharmonia. We are invited to appreciate this "Promenade Concert" recording, an event known for gathering each year the best performers of the moment. In this recording, during the 1971 "Proms", Rojdestvenski superbly performs the Symphony No 4 to a very enthusiastic audience.
The end of the episode introduces to us the famous Guido Cantelli through a rehearsal with the Scala Orchestra at the Edinburgh festival in 1950. He conducts with virtuosity the end of Semiramide - Overture in D major by Rossini.