Igor Stravinsky is known for his legacy of glamorous fairy tales, including popular classics such as "Petrushka" and "The Firebird". Another favourite is the ballet "Pulcinella", an endearing blend of Baroque theatricality, which can be heard here in the form of a concert suite. The other works in this programme are surprisingly less well known: the symphonic "Song of the Nightingale" and "The Fairy's Kiss", based on Tchaikovsky's music, both come from stories by Hans Christian Andersen. A rarity is "The Faun and the Shepherdess", an ancient Greek story that was Stravinsky's romantic-sensual gift to his young bride. JoAnn Falletta is Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and this collaboration has resulted in a wealth of highly successful and much-admired recordings. Russian music is an integral part of her repertoire, whose recordings of Alexander Scriabin's Second Symphony and Reinhold Glières have been enthusiastically received by the press. In total, she published more than 135 titles. She has been a guest conductor with many of the most renowned orchestras in America, Canada, Europe, Asia and South America. Mezzo-soprano Susan Platts is internationally known for her expressive voice and impressive musical presence. A former protégé of Jessye Norman, she worked closely with the legendary soprano for over a decade, which has deeply shaped her art. Platts is particularly celebrated for her interpretations of Gustav Mahler's works, including more than 90 performances of his Symphony No. 2.