Russian Roots

Hear from the teenage Shostakovich in this all-Russian programme with conductor Gianandrea Noseda.

The lush and romantic elegance of Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto is followed by Balakirev’s Islamey, a piece of large-scale fantasy music inspired by a trip to Caucasus, the mountainous area which joins Europe and Asia.

Shostakovich wrote his first symphony when he was just 18. Already a remarkably experienced composer, the young Dimtri incorporates aspects of Mahler and Prokofiev in this musical first salvo from the teenager who would become one of music’s biggest symphonists.

Change of concerto

At the request of the soloist Seong-Jin Cho, this concert will now feature Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No 2, in place of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No 3. The rest of the programme remains unchanged.
Posted at 11.55am on 21 March 2019