Arabella Steinbacher (violin), Rté NSO/Pietari Inkinen

NCH, Dublin Tonight 8pm €10-€35 01-4170000

NCH, Dublin Tonight 8pm €10-€35 01-4170000

London Symphony Orchestra/valery Gergiev

NCH, Dublin Tomorrow 8pm €40-€85 01-4170000

Angela Hewitt (piano), Kammerorchesterbasel

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NCH, Dublin Tues 8pm €20-€50 01-4170000

The German-Japanese violinist Arabella Steinbacher made a huge impression on her last two concerto appearances in Dublin, playing Shostakovich with the RTÉ NSO and Bruch with London's Philharmonia Orchestra. She's back with the NSO this Friday, for a performance of the Dvorak Violin Concerto, with the rest of the programme under Pietari Inkinen given over to staples by Brahms (the TragicOverture) and Beethoven (the Seventh Symphony).

There's stiff competition on the orchestral front this week. The London Symphony Orchestra is back at the National Concert Hall on Saturday, playing Debussy (the Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune) and Stravinsky (the Symphony in C and the complete Firebirdballet) under the great Valery Gergiev.

Also, on Tuesday the Swiss chamber orchestra, Kammerorchesterbasel, offers three keyboard concertos by Bach with pianist Angela Hewitt, in tandem with two pieces by the 20th-century Swiss composer, Frank Martin (the Pavane couleur du tempsand the Etudesfor strings).

Michael Dervan

Michael Dervan

Michael Dervan is a music critic and Irish Times contributor