London, prepare your ears: Paavo Järvi is coming to town for good in 2028, when he takes over the London Philharmonic. But before that, he graced the Royal Albert Hall with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, proving he's the calm, collected conductor we all need in these chaotic times. His secret? Being the most sensitive accompanist this side of a therapy session, shepherding Leonidas Kavakos through a breathtaking Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto.

Tchaikovsky spent three years hunting for a soloist brave enough to premiere this beast of a concerto, but Kavakos waltzed in like it was a casual Tuesday. The Greek violinist's dexterity and pinpoint intonation at the top of the range made light work of passagework that has tripped up the finest fiddlers. The first movement's intricate variations were exquisitely decorated, and his intensity was so gripping that the audience couldn't help but applaud mid-cadenza - because rules are made to be broken, especially when someone's playing like that.

Järvi, ever alert to Kavakos's generous rubato, kept the orchestra in soft-shoed lockstep, as if they were dancing a delicate minuet. When the canzonetta's simple eloquence gave way to a helter-skelter finale, Kavakos let fly, his bow skimming the strings with unerring accuracy. And just to prove he's not a one-trick pony, he followed it up with a Bach encore dispatched with the same poise and precision. Because why not show off a little?