A natural sequel to such a successful debut as that of Rodolfo Barráez last year is his return to the helm of the Orchestra; the charismatic and much-awarded Venezuelan conductor performs two monumental symphonic works of French Romantic literature, Franck’s Variations and Bizet’s Symphony, which always remind us that Bizet… didn’t only write Carmen! The soloist of the evening is the familiar and ever-beloved pianist of the public, George-Emmanuel Lazaridis, who plays with his unerring musical instinct and boundless virtuosic ability not only Franck’s work but also Saint-Saëns’ brilliant pianistic Fantasy “Africa.” The program is completed with a work inspired by the figure of the greatest French novelist, Honoré de Balzac, composed by Philippos Tsalachouris.