Alexandre Tharaud recorded Rachmaninov's famed Second Piano Concerto in Liverpool, with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. This weekend, the French pianist reuintes with the same orchestra for a hotly anticipated (and sold out) 'Rach 2', this time in Tharaud's hometown, envelopped in the astounding acoustics of the Philharmonie de Paris.

It's just one of seven concerts for which Tharaud has been given carte blanche this weekend to explore the music of Rachmaninov in his different guises. Like the new album, Tharaud Plays Rachmaninov, the Philharmonie de Paris presents not only the blockbuster of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2, but also solo and chamber works, vocal music and pieces for piano six-hands.

Alexandre Tharaud's Rachmaninov Weekend is at the Philharmonie de Paris November 26-27. The album Tharaud Plays Rachmaninov is out now on online platforms, CD and vinyl.

Following the launch of Alexandre Tharaud's Rachmaninov release in a scintillating concert with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra last Friday, the recording has been chosen as Classic FM's Album of the Week from Monday 24 October, and can be heard on the airwaves on John Suchet's morning programme throughout the week.

"The brilliant French pianist Alexandre Tharaud takes on the all-time Classic FM Hall of Fame favourite – Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2 – in this thrilling performance with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under Russian maestro Alexander Vedernikov," wrote Classic FM. "It's the first time Tharaud has devoted an entire album to Russian repertoire and he does not shirk from eschewing the work's romanticism to explore its darker shadows.

"The Rach 2 is coupled here with more intimate Rachmaninov for three pianists and a little sweeter icing on the cake comes in the form of a sublime Vocalise in its original version for voice and piano, with the pure-voiced French soprano Sabine Devieilhe."