Although neither promoters nor pianists have favoured Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, there was much to enjoy in soloist Alexei Grynyuk's rare performance on Saturday.

Tchaikovsky couldn't hope to emulate the lush melodies of his First Concerto. But the Second contains thrilling and beautiful music. It drew from the young Ukrainian mesmerising fingerwork - plus exquisite phrasing in reflective passages.

Conducted by Derek Williams, the Nottingham Symphony united rhythmic vivacity with tonal warmth. In the slow movement, principal violin and cello sang sweetly. The ensemble held on to their collective hats in the excitement of the final allegro con fuoco.

Alexei Grynyuk returned to dazzle in a movement by Domenico Scarlatti.

Borodin's opera Prince Igor is best known for its oriental dances, and there was just a hint of them in Glazunov's orchestration of the overture. The playing was disciplined and atmospheric.

The Tchaikovsky concerto's marching tune had a parallel in the mercurial third movement of his Pathétique Symphony. Here, though, the context is very different.

To reconcile the work's raw emotional power with the elegance of its craftsmanship remains a big challenge. The NSO met it with flying colours.