Composer

Mitsuki Uchida has, from an early age, been considered a standout interpreter of Beethoven. This is considered Beethoven’s first piano concerto wherein he broke away from the more traditional format prescribed by Mozart (an orchestral introduction with a dramatic solo entrance) and created his own way forward, letting the instrument speak for itself — intimately and delicately so — and leading the way for the rest of the ensemble. Shostakovich’s Fifteenth Symphony is his last symphony and is full of quotations, codes, clues, and ambiguity. This is an experience defying description which invites the listener to create their own personal interpretation.

Andris Nelsons conducts Beethoven and Shostakovich with Mitsuko Uchida, piano

Boston Symphony Orchestra

The Philharmonia pairs Shostakovich’s extraordinary final symphony with the famous overture quoted in its first movement.

Santtu conducts Shostakovich and Mendelssohn

Southbank Centre

Schnittke remarked that he saw a ‘desperate striving to find myself’ in his First Violin Concerto. His self-criticism seems harsh, for this is a brilliantly original work, shimmering with instrumental colour.

EPSG:4326

London Symphony Orchestra/Gianandrea Noseda

Barbican Centre

Experience the profound intensity and emotional depth of classical music with the London Symphony Orchestra's upcoming concert featuring the works of Schnittke, Shostakovich, and Brahms. This remarkable evening of orchestral brilliance is set to take place at the prestigious Barbican on Sunday, 13 April 2025, at 7pm.

The concert will open with Alfred Schnittke's Violin Concerto No. 1, a piece that showcases the composer's unique style and emotional depth, followed by Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 2, "To October," a work commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 1917 Revolution with its triumphant and revolutionary spirit. The evening will conclude with Johannes Brahms' "Schicksalslied, Song of Destiny," an inspiring choral work that promises to move the audience from nobility through tempestuousness to a glorious resolution.

Under the baton of Gianandrea Noseda, and featuring the virtuosic talents of violinist Lisa Batiashvili, along with the London Symphony Chorus, this concert is a celebration of musical mastery across different eras. The London Symphony Orchestra, known for its world-leading performances, will bring these compositions to life in a way that resonates with both classical aficionados and newcomers alike.

Tickets for this unmissable event are available in a range of prices to suit all budgets, with options from £70 to £18, plus a £4 booking fee for online or phone transactions. Attendees can also take advantage of various discounts, including Wildcards for guaranteed entry with seat allocation on the day, multibuy discounts, and special rates for groups, young people, and students.

The concert is expected to conclude at approximately 8:50 pm, including a 20-minute interval. This timing is subject to change, ensuring an evening filled with unforgettable musical moments.

Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the powerful and emotive works of Schnittke, Shostakovich, and Brahms, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Book your tickets now for an evening of orchestral fireworks and choral majesty at the Barbican.

Schnittke, Shostakovich and Brahms

Of all Mozart's piano concertos, Emanuel Ax particularly appreciates the majestic C major concerto KV 503: "This piece has a certain grandeur about it. It is simply so wonderful, so expansive, so big, and the slow movement is pure magic." KV 503 is the crowning conclusion of a series of twelve piano concertos that Mozart wrote between 1784 and 1786 for his performances in the "Clavierland" of Vienna. Dmitri Shostakovich composed his 8th Symphony in the summer of 1943, a few months after the bitter battle of Stalingrad, which marked the turning point in the war through unspeakable human suffering. Shostakovich himself described his 8th Symphony as a requiem, as music that speaks of individual suffering. Others saw it as a message about the fear-filled lives of artists and intellectuals under the Stalinist dictatorship. Despite the gloomy themes, moments of hope and humanity permeate the symphony. With this emotionally gripping symphony, Slovakian conductor Juraj Valčuha opens a series of concerts that the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra is dedicating to the 80th anniversary of the liberation.

Mozart Shostakovich

Gasteig HP8

Brazil, Russia, Spain And France

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

DesertView Performing Arts Center

Pre-College Division Recital

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

The FIU Symphony Orchestra, under the masterful direction of Javier Jose Mendoza, presents an evening of monumental works in their final concert of the season. The program opens with Barber's lively "Overture to The School for Scandal," a piece brimming with wit and energy. Afterwards, the orchestra will perform Shostakovich's 9th Symphony, and the concert will close with extraordinary pianist and FIU Artist-in-Residence Kemal Gekic will take to the stage, performing Beethoven's majestic "Emperor Piano Concerto," celebrated for its grandeur and virtuosic demands.

FIU Orchestral Masterworks Season Finale: Barber, Shostakovich & Beethoven’s 'Emperor' with Kemal Gekić

Herbert & Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center

Russian Rhapsody: Tchaikovsky & Shostakovich

Louis G. Kaufman Auditorium

It is no exaggeration to call Shostakovich the greatest symphonist of the 20th century. With three masterpieces by the enigmatic composer, chief conductor Christoph Gedschold and Copenhagen Phil show three sides of Shostakovich's musical diversity: A swinging suite, a terrifying cello concerto and an unexpected symphony.

Shostakovich, Shostakovich and Shostakovich

Konservatoriets Koncertsal

In pursuit of their degrees at SFCM, each student presents a recital that represents their artistry and craft. Student Recitals feature repertoire curated by students with guidance from their faculty instructor.

Shea Yurdana, cello - Senior Recital

A part of our series looking at the music and times of Dmitri Shostakovich and how the composer folded messages of revolution and resistance into his music during a politically turbulent time. Yo-Yo Ma brings the specter of resistance to the stage. Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto is a prime example of the composer using music to protest an authoritarian regime; the cello stands defiant against the orchestra, often playing out its own theme not reflected in the ensemble, until it disseminates into a wild cadenza and is whisked away into a sudden abrupt end.

Andris Nelsons conducts Shostakovich with Yo-Yo Ma, cello

Kahchun Wong and the Hallé first met in a thrilling performance of Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony – see the magic that started their journey together.

Much of Shostakovich’s extraordinary output was profoundly marked by politics and the judgements of censors. His monumental Fifth Symphony, one of the greatest and most powerful of twentieth-century orchestral works was, supposedly, ‘A Soviet artist’s response to just criticism’. It is now known that this popular symphony was composed as a work of defiance so subtle that no-one realised at the time.

The Hallé - Shostakovich's Symphony No.5

The Bridgewater Hall

Much of Shostakovich’s extraordinary output was profoundly marked by politics and the judgements of censors. His monumental Fifth Symphony, one of the greatest and most powerful of twentieth-century orchestral works was, supposedly, ‘A Soviet artist’s response to just criticism’. It is now known that this popular symphony was composed as a work of defiance so subtle that no-one realised at the time.

Shostakovich’s Symphony No.5

‘The greatest graduation piece of all time’ crowns this evening of 20th century classics.

The Philharmonia’s Principal Conductor Santtu opens with Prokofiev’s ‘happy and uncomplicated’, Mozart-inspired Symphony No. 1. Prokofiev wrote in his journal while he was writing the effervescent last movement ‘I was hugging myself with delight all the time I was composing it.’

Santtu conducts Prokofiev and Shostakovich

The first in our series looking at the music and times of Dmitri Shostakovich and how the composer folded messages of revolution and resistance into his music during a politically turbulent time. Written more than 50 years after the Russian Revolution and during another point of political and historical upheaval, Shostakovich’s Eleventh Symphony is a revisitation of the events of Bloody Sunday, integrating Russian folk and revolutionary songs. The final movement is simultaneously a rallying cry and a warning to future tyrants.

Andris Nelsons conducts Shostakovich Symphonies 6 & 11

Stravinsky’s ​Violin Concerto comes to life in the hands of Patricia Kopatchinskaja — whom The New York Times calls “a player of rare expressive energy.” Brahms spent over 20 years writing his First Symphony; by turns somber, stormy, hushed, and heroic, the work established the Romantic’s unequivocal command of the genre. Jakub Hrůša opens the program by conducting Jessie Montgomery’s anticipated Project 19 premiere.

Brahms, Stravinsky & Jessie Montgomery 

David Geffen Hall

Prokofiev's lively Classical Symphony takes Haydn's symphonies as its affectionate model, successfully updating the form to the early twentieth century.

Philharmonia Orchestra

The Anvil

A concert with impressive string quartets – because our orchestra members love to regularly step out of the big orchestra apparatus and work intensively on works close to their hearts as chamber musicians. And the first one is a real piece of work, according to contemporaries even »as incomprehensible as Chinese«, to which the composer rumbled the words »Cattle! Donkeys!«: Beethoven’s magnificent fugue op. 133 – a highly unique late work from 1825 that goes to the limits of what was possible, with monumental architectural structures and, despite some friendly tunes, with enormous inner tensions. One of the pieces to be rediscovered in this programme comes from the beloved homeland of our concertmaster: Ilian Garnetz grew up in a creative environment – and was awarded the title of »Artist of the Moldavian People« as a music mediator and representative of his country. Now, together with his fellow musicians, he would like to introduce the Bamberg audience to the fourth string quartet by his former violin professor and composer Boris Dubosarschi. It was influenced by the work of Shostakovich – with which the concert ends on a stirring note: His string quartet No. 8 was composed in 1960, during which he reflected on the destruction of the city of Dresden during the war in 1945. It expresses his shock at this and was published »in memory of the victims« of that time. However, Shostakovich felt that this subjective work of confession with its own quotations from his pieces could also be dedicated to his own commemoration – and also mentioned that it was »of such a pseudo-tragic nature that I shed many tears while composing it.«

Chamber concert: String quartet

Bamberg Concert Hall

Immerse yourself in an evening of profound musical expression with the Philharmonia at The Anvil, Basingstoke, on Wednesday, 9th April 2025, at 7:30 pm. This captivating concert, under the baton of Santtu-Matias Rouvali, features a compelling program that bridges the works of Shostakovich and Prokofiev, two titans of 20th-century classical music.

The concert opens with Prokofiev's Symphony No. 1, "Classical", an homage to the grace and clarity of Mozart's style, yet infused with Prokofiev's own playful and innovative spirit. This light-hearted piece sets the stage with its dance-like movements and joyful energy.

The evening takes a deeper, more introspective turn with Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1, featuring the charismatic violinist Nemanja Radulović. His performance promises to bring an electrifying energy and emotional depth to the piece, particularly in the hauntingly beautiful third movement, a reflection of Shostakovich's struggle under Soviet repression.

Completing the program is Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1, a work of remarkable maturity and inventiveness from the composer's student days. This piece showcases the early emergence of Shostakovich's distinctive voice and style, making it a fitting conclusion to an evening that celebrates the resilience and creativity of these composers.

Tickets are priced between £17 and £45, with special discounts available for groups, under 25s, and full-time students. The concert's duration is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, including an interval, making it an ideal cultural outing for audiences aged 7 and above.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the power and beauty of Shostakovich and Prokofiev's music, brought to life by the Philharmonia's principal conductor and featured artist in the heart of Basingstoke. For bookings and further information, contact the Anvil Arts Box Office at 01256 844244.

Basingstoke: Santtu conducts Shostakovich & Prokofiev

Join us at De Montfort Hall on Tuesday, 8th April 2025, at 7pm for an unforgettable evening as Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducts a mesmerizing program featuring the works of Shostakovich and Prokofiev. This concert promises to be a highlight of the 24/25 Leicester Season, showcasing the talents of conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali and the virtuosic violinist Nemanja Radulović.

The evening will commence with Prokofiev's Symphony No. 1, "Classical", a piece inspired by Mozart and known for its light-hearted and dance-filled movements. Following this, the audience will be treated to Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1, a piece that, due to Soviet disapproval, was not premiered until after Stalin's death. This concerto is a profound reflection of Shostakovich's experiences under repression, especially evident in the beautifully yearning third movement leading into a wild finale. Nemanja Radulović's energy and "firepower" (Gramophone) will bring this piece to life on the De Montfort Hall stage.

The program will conclude with Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1, a work composed by a young Shostakovich at the age of 19 as his graduation piece from the Petrograd Conservatory. Despite his youth, this symphony already showcases the composer's distinctive voice and style, marking it as one of his finest works.

Ticket prices range from £21 to £46, with multi-buy discounts available. Special pricing is available for those aged 25 or under, students, and recipients of Universal or Pension Credit. A group booking discount is also available. The concert will run for approximately 2 hours, including a 20-minute interval. Attendees can look forward to free printed programmes available at the venue, with digital programme notes accessible a week before the concert.

For more information or to book your tickets, please contact the De Montfort Hall box office at 0116 233 3111. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the power and beauty of 20th-century classics performed by the Philharmonia under the baton of Santtu-Matias Rouvali, with the exceptional Nemanja Radulović on violin.

Leicester: Santtu conducts Shostakovich & Prokofiev

De Montfort Hall

Charismatic violinist Nemanja Radulović brings his ‘energy and firepower’ (Gramophone) to the stage in Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto. Met with disapproval by the Soviet authorities, the piece did not receive its premiere until after Stalin’s death. The anguish Shostakovich must have felt at being repressed is felt in the painfully beautiful, yearning third movement, which leads straight into the wild finale.

Philharmonia: Santtu Conducts Shostakovich And Prokofiev

Towards the end of his eventful life as a composer, Dmitri Shostakovich once again sets out to write a symphony, his fifteenth by now. It is bound to be his last, as the seriously ill Russian is fully aware of. Still, his decision stands: »I would like to write a cheerful symphony.« And indeed, his final symphonic endeavour begins with a twinkle in the eye, mischievously orchestrated. But by the second movement, the mood has already changed, and movement by movement, the score turns into what seems like a musical biography. A painful chorale, moments of eerie trembling, and sharp irony – Shostakovich creates a musical review of his own oeuvre and the horrors of his era. His life as an artist is still marked by panic, even though two decades have gone by since Stalin’s death. Thus it is not surprising that Shostakovich’s sense of humour, essential for survival, keeps drifting towards the grotesque and becomes terrifying. At the end, you can almost hear death itself coming towards you, bones rattling.

Last but not least

Museum Ludwig

Boston Symphony Chamber Players

New England Conservatory of Music

This program, guest conducted by Naima Burrs, brings you three very different but very important masterpieces of classical music written in the last century.

Shostakovich Symphony No. 5

Strathmore

Shostakovich in both revolutionary and festive mood alongside a MacMillan Concerto, written especially for Nicola Benedetti.

On Tour in Bristol

Bristol Beacon

War creates lies, but it also exposes uncomfortable truths, and as the Soviet Union faced the onslaught of Nazi Germany in 1943, Shostakovich poured his feelings into a symphony on a gigantic scale. Shostakovich’s Eighth is music forged from blood, fire and steel – colossal, uncompromising, and so powerful that after the war the authorities banned it. Jonathon Heyward conducts and joins an RSNO favourite – saxophonist Jess Gillam – in a thriller from Anna Clyne: an Irish legend of banshees and night terrors, told in music like you’ve never heard.

RSNO Season 24-25: Shostakovich Eight

Usher Hall

The Festive Overture is exactly that: a sprightly, light-touch of a piece composed in only three days. MacMillan’s orchestral music is sometimes likened to Shostakovich’s. His new Concerto, with its dark colours and folk-like melodies, sits well between two of the Russian composer’s works. The darkness is dispelled at the end, concluding with great serenity.

Immerse yourself in an evening of stirring and exploratory music with the London Symphony Orchestra's presentation of "MacMillan and Shostakovich 12" at the Barbican on Thursday, 3 April 2025, at 7pm. This full-blooded concert features the talents of conductor Gianandrea Noseda and violinist Nicola Benedetti, promising an unforgettable musical journey.

The concert opens with Dmitri Shostakovich's "Festive Overture," a sprightly piece composed in just three days, setting the stage with its light and celebratory mood. The evening then transitions to the London premiere of James MacMillan's "Violin Concerto No 2," a work specially written for Nicola Benedetti. This concerto, with its dark colors and folk-like melodies, provides a perfect bridge to Shostakovich's "Symphony No 12, The Year 1917," a piece written in memory of Lenin and the 1917 Revolution. From its ominous beginning, the symphony unfolds without interruption to a triumphant finale, reflecting an optimistic hope for better times.

James MacMillan's concerto, tailored for Benedetti, showcases a unique blend of emotional depth and technical brilliance, making this performance a highlight of the evening. Together with Noseda's insightful direction, the London Symphony Orchestra will bring to life the revolutionary spirit and festive moods encapsulated in these works.

The concert is set to conclude at approximately 8:35 pm, including a 20-minute interval. Tickets are available in various price ranges, with options for discounts and special offers such as Wildcards for guaranteed entry, multibuy discounts, and concessions for young people, students, and groups.

This event not only offers a chance to experience high-caliber performances but also to engage with music that spans festive celebration and revolutionary fervor. Recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3, this concert promises to be a memorable addition to the cultural calendar, inviting audiences to explore the depths of Shostakovich's and MacMillan's musical landscapes under the guidance of some of the most respected names in classical music today.

MacMillan and Shostakovich 12

Some pieces are classics for a reason – and let’s face it, when it comes to Dvořák’s New World symphony it’s been a long time since the Hovis ad! This great symphony of exile, hope and nostalgia has been touching hearts since 1893. Shostakovich’s uproarious Piano Concerto is a bit newer, and Anna Tsybuleva makes it sparkle tonight. First, though, guest conductor Erina Yashima shares a piece of pure magic from a young Dutch composer with a huge imagination.

From the New World

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

Immerse yourself in the profound intensity and emotional depth of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony with the Orchestre symphonique de Québec. This iconic performance, under the baton of Clemens Schuldt and featuring the celebrated cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, promises an unforgettable evening of classical music. The concert will explore the theme of fate, beginning with Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde, Prelude and Liebestod," followed by Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1, and culminating in Beethoven's monumental Fifth Symphony. This program not only showcases the legendary love story of Tristan and Isolde but also delves into Shostakovich's satirical take on Soviet totalitarianism, all leading to Beethoven's triumphant victory over fate and his own deafness. 

Join us for this spectacular event at the Grand Théâtre de Québec, with performances scheduled for April 2, 2025, at 8:00 PM, and a matinee on April 3, 2025, at 10:30 AM. Enhance your concert experience with pre-concert talks featuring Clemens Schuldt, offering insights into the creative process and historical context of the pieces, or enjoy a morning of coffee and conversation with a musician from the orchestra. Tickets start at $55, making this a must-attend event for classical music enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Don't miss your chance to witness the power of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, a work so universal it was chosen by NASA to represent humanity's cultural achievements on the Voyager I spacecraft. Secure your tickets now for an evening of sublime music that transcends time and space.

Beethoven's Fifth

Grand Théâtre de Québec

Dmitri Shostakovich's music is rich in imagery, suggestive and expressive. It addresses the catastrophes of its time just as forcefully and ambiguously as it interprets the plot in a multi-dimensional way as original film music or as the famous "Waltz No. 2" is simply excellent dance music. It is important to discover the entire stylistic range that the celebrated and ostracized Soviet composer left behind for posterity as a symphonist and chamber musician - music that still accompanies many a soundtrack of well-known films today.

Shostakovich – A Portrait

Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding

Emden

Festspielhaus am Wall

High Five

Die Glocke

Riley Fichtenmayer, violin - Senior Recital

Daniel Hope : Chamber orchestra

Prinzregententheater

Chamber Concert No. 6

Historisches Rathaus Jena

Chamber Music of the Mendelssohn Orchestra Academy

Gewandhaus

»I’m happy about every listener, regardless whether they are musically trained or not. Concert halls are not museums and everyone can love music. I feel like an entertainer. And people notice that.« Krzysztof Urbański once said this in an interview – and he really is a charming entertainer on the conductor’s podium. No surprise, as the friendly Pole first wanted to be a dancer and then a football player as a kid before discovering his passion for conducting. He has been mixing up the classical music scene with his distinctive style for many years now. He particularly loves his guest performances with us and we are happy that he will be holding the baton again – in an emotionally charged programme that he has meticulously prepared as he always does. He has a strong affection for Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, with which the composer silenced his critics for a short time in 1937 – a typically ambiguous work with which he wanted to portray the »becoming of the personality«, in other words »the individual human being with all his feelings and doubts«. Before that, things are no less turbulent: with Alina Ibragimova as soloist, Sibelius’ brilliant violin concerto is performed. According to the composer’s wife, he was »on fire the whole time« during its composition. And you can hear this in the piece with its majestic melodies and sparkling action – including in the finale, which a critic humorously called a »polonaise for polar bears«, while Sibelius described it as a »danse macabre«. A programme that is perfectly suited to the temperament of Krzysztof Urbański, who once said: »I simply can’t do anything about this energy that slumbers inside of me. I just do what I feel.«

Krzysztof Urbański, Alina Ibragimova

Get ready to be whisked away on a journey of iconic scores and soundtracks from some of the greatest movies of all time, as the acclaimed live orchestra London Concertante bring their spectacular Music from the Movies candlelight concerts series to Manchester Cathedral.

Music from the Movies by Candlelight

Manchester Cathedral

Immerse yourself in a captivating musical journey with the Philadelphia Orchestra's upcoming concert, "Shostakovich, Schumann, and Mazzoli," set to enchant audiences at the prestigious Verizon Hall. This exceptional performance, under the baton of the acclaimed conductor Nathalie Stutzmann and featuring the virtuosic Edgar Moreau on cello, promises an unforgettable evening of classical music.

The concert will showcase a trio of masterpieces, starting with the contemporary vibrance of Mazzoli's "Orpheus Undone," followed by Schumann's emotionally charged Cello Concerto, and culminating in Shostakovich's powerful Symphony No. 5. Each piece, a testament to the resilience and brilliance of its composer, offers a unique auditory experience that spans the spectrum of human emotion and artistic expression.

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5, a work of profound depth and complexity, emerges as a highlight. Composed in 1937 amidst the oppressive artistic restrictions of Stalin's regime, it miraculously transcended its time, receiving an overwhelming ovation at its premiere. Schumann's Cello Concerto, on the other hand, is a poignant reflection of the composer's inner turmoil and his final burst of creative genius before his tragic decline.

This concert not only celebrates the timeless beauty of classical music but also marks a special occasion as Verizon Hall is rededicated as Marian Anderson Hall, reaffirming its status as the home of The Philadelphia Orchestra. 

Join us for this spectacular event on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 2:00 PM or Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 8:00 PM. Tickets are available as part of the 2024-25 Subscription Package, offering not just a seat to this magnificent performance but also exclusive subscriber benefits. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the convergence of musical genius and historical significance in one of the season's most anticipated concerts.

Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

From The Apprentice to Game of Thrones, Poldark to Pride and Prejudice, the BBC Concert Orchestra brings TV’s best-loved tunes to Nottingham with Radio 3’s Friday Night is Music Night: TV Classics.

Friday Night is Music Night: TV Classics

Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall

Brahms was dismayed by the lukewarm response to his sole Violin Concerto, but now it’s impossible to imagine the Romantic violin repertoire without it. Juraj Valčuha and Gil Shaham return for a luminous reading of the ultimate sleeper hit. Shostakovich’s intensely passionate, profoundly ambivalent Symphony No. 10 brims over with real-life references—ranging from a portrait of the late Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin to musically coded proxies for the composer himself and the object of his hopeless midlife crush.

Juraj Valčuha & Gil Shaham

Davies Symphony Hall

World-class violinist Leonidas Kavakos returns to Berwaldhallen with Dmitri Shostakovich's second violin concerto from 1967, which was also the composer's last solo concerto. The Colombian violinist and conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada also leads the Svergies Radio Symphony Orchestra in three works by Richard Strauss; the symphonic poems Tod und Verklärung and Till Eulenspiegel's lustige Streiche as well as music from the opera Rosenkavalieren .

Leonidas Kavakos In Shostakovich's Second Violin Concerto

SR Berwaldhallen

Complex and intense, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 is like going on a rollercoaster of sound. Just as a rollercoaster has thrilling drops and exhilarating climbs, Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony takes listeners on an emotional thrill ride with plenty of unexpected twists! 

But before getting strapped into this exciting ride, unwind with one of our signature cocktails or participate in one of our fun pre-concert activities! 

Brass and Brash

Shostakovich was on a chamber music roll when he composed the Quartet No 2 – its Romance tipping the wink to Tchaikovsky and Borodin. Tragedy intrudes on the 11th Quartet which mourns the much-loved Vasily Shirinsky, second violinist of the Beethoven Quartet. And standing at the gateway to Shostakovich’s late style, it’s paired with the lyrical No 14, which breathes the vivacious warmth of its dedicatee, cellist Sergei Shirinsky, and sports a heart-on-sleeve duet Shostakovich called his ‘Italian bit’. The Kyans complete the programme with Gubaidulina’s work about the nature of sound itself.

Shostakovich Quartets: Intimate Portraits, Part 3

Milton Court Concert Hall

Shostakovich’s Fifth journeys from haunting depths to its famously ambiguous finale. Saxophone virtuoso Timothy McAllister is the soloist in John Corigliano’s Triathlon, which was written for him. With movements centered on soprano, alto, and baritone saxophones, the piece requires — in the composer’s words — “three feats of high athletic prowess.” Cindy McTee’s Double Play is inspired by mid-20th-century big-band jazz.

Slatkin Conducts Shostakovich’s Fifth

The musical works in this concert are united by an honest expression of the deep, inner life of man. They promise a journey into the souls of 20th century composers, which they reveal and allow us to empathise with through their expressive sounds. Dmitri Shostakovich's First Cello Concerto is like a great emotional sigh of relief after decades of strict art censorship by Joseph Stalin's regime. Sergei Rachmaninoff's luxuriant Third Symphony was written in American exile and reveals much of the Russian composer's homesickness. Bohuslav Martinů's opera Julietta is about the lost connection to reality ; the accompanying orchestral suite describes wandering in endless dream worlds. Martinů's musical language here is even more personal and intimate than, for example, in his opera The Greek Passion , which will premiere at the State Opera in April.

5th Symphony Concerto: Inner Life

Opernplatz

Under the batons of Salonen Fellows Mert Yalniz and Aleksandra Melaniuk, soloists from the Conservatory perform concerto movements with the Colburn Orchestra. The program features clarinet, viola, horn, and violin virtuosos in works by Rossini, Walton, Strauss, and Shostakovich.

Colburn Orchestra: Concerto Forum

Colburn School

One of the most gifted young artists onstage today, Sheku Kanneh-Mason capitulated to international fame with his performance at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. He makes his Pittsburgh Symphony debut with Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto. Nina Shekhar’s new work “explodes like an orchestral supernova” (LA Times). The program is rounded out with two wonderfully passionate works by Strauss.

Kanneh-Mason Performs Shostakovich

Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts

Study concert with cello students under Andreas Brantelid

Study concert with cello students

The Royal Danish Academy of Music

Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture is a work that, in a Tchaikovsky-sensitive way, both tells the lyrical part of Shakespeare's story about the two young lovers and evokes how much the two young people's families were at war with each other. The music is a solid masterpiece that constantly appears in popular culture, but can still give audiences chills and breathlessness.

Bleuse & Shostakovitjs 5

Odense Concert Hall

Shostakovich’s Eleventh Symphony unfolds with the immediacy of a newsreel as it depicts the harrowing events of the 1905 Russian Revolution. Brimming with rebellious anthems and prisoners’ songs, the Cold War-era score is widely heard as a veiled critique of the Soviet regime. Rachmaninov’s First Piano Concerto, a farewell to Russia, features the captivating Simon Trpčeski.

Hrůša, Trpčeski & Rachmaninov

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

In the post-war Soviet Union, a number of cultural figures fell victim to massive censorship – first authors, and from 1948 it was the turn of composers. At the head of the censorship was Andrey Shjdanov, who was put in charge of the Soviet Union's cultural policy by Joseph Stalin. His purges in the field of music affected Prokofiev, Khatjaturyan and Shostakovich, among others. It is during this period that Shostakovich composes his violin concerto, but it is too dark and introverted for him to dare to have it performed, even though the music is also moving, enthralling and oozes emotional depth. The work did not have its world premiere until 1955 – after Stalin's death.

Tjajkovskij & Sjostakovitj

Aalborg Central Waterfront

Classical music is old, but that doesn't mean we always have to stick to the old traditions!

Classical and Beer

Student house Odense

Four 20th-century masterpieces close out the chamber season. Ligeti’s music has been utilized in film scores by Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorsese. Shostakovich dedicated his brief string quartet to his wife, Nina, who had died unexpectedy. Bozza’s brass quintet is a virtuosic showpiece. The program concludes with Ravel's Introduction and Allegro, a glorious work showcasing the harp.

20th Century Masters

Sarasota Orchestra

Join us for an unforgettable evening of classical music with the Aris Quartett at the Leo Rich Theater on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 7:30 pm. This performance, presented by the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, promises to be a highlight of the 2024-2025 Season's Evening Series.

The Aris Quartett, renowned for their exquisite interpretations and technical mastery, will grace the stage with a program that includes Felix Mendelssohn's "String Quartet No. 1 in E flat Major, Op.12," Erwin Schulhoff's "Five Pieces for String Quartet," a new work by Gyorgy Ligeti dedicated to the Aris Quartett in honor of his father’s 100th anniversary, and Dmitri Shostakovich's "String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 110."

Tickets are available for in-person attendance, with special pricing for students, and there is also an option for online concert access for those who wish to enjoy the performance remotely. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the magic of chamber music performed by one of the most acclaimed quartets of our time. Secure your tickets now and be part of a musical evening that promises to be both moving and memorable.

Aris Quartett

Tucson Convention Center

Sergei Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto is adored by music lovers — and feared by pianists — for its marriage of technical fireworks and passionate melodies. From the tolling of distant bells that haunts the opening to the spirited dances of its finale, this rollercoaster ride for solo piano and orchestra is brought to life by Canadian pianist Stewart Goodyear, whose performances of Rachmaninoff's music "would surely have won the composer's approval" (Gramophone).

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra & Stewart Goodyear

National Arts Centre

Making music became a matter of life and death for Soviet composers when Joseph Stalin's Great Terror campaign began a lethal crackdown on artistic dissent. Despite being denounced by the authorities and fearing for his life, Dmitri Shostakovich penned his Fifth Symphony — a work of artistic heroism in which the composer reacts to the violence, oppression, and cruelty of his time.

Southam Hall

Our west-coast friends from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Otto Tausk, bring the kinetic excitement and technical brilliance of Brahms’s Violin Concerto, performed by Vadim Gluzman, along with Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, a work ablaze with emotional drama, reflecting the anxious tensions of the pre–World War II era.

Brahms & Shostakovich with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

David Pecaut Square

Join Artistic Consultant Leonard Slatkin and cellist Inbal Segev for our March performance.

Shostakovich’s Fifth

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts

Pre-College Faculty Recital: Verve Trio

UC Davis Symphony Orchestra

University of California, Davis

We are delighted that John Storgårds will be our guest again this season, as he is a highly valued member of our orchestra family. In addition to his regular appearances in Bamberg as a conductor, he was active in other roles last summer: as part of the jury in our Mahler Competition. As a conductor, he is known for his creative instinct in arranging programmes and will guide us through his rich selection of works with a keen sense of rhythm: We start with a waltz from a rarely heard gem – Shostakovich’s operetta, first performed in 1959, which revolves around everyday life in a Plattenbau housing estate. Poulenc could be a real »rascal« – as evidenced by his concerto written in 1932, despite some of its elegiac tones. We are pleased to welcome two young pianists, Lucas and Arthur Jussen, for their debut in Bamberg. The concert will also feature the Symphony No. 3 by Ukrainian composer Victoria Polevá: this haunting piece was written in 2003 and at times creates powerful sonic massifs, but is otherwise characterised by a melancholy tone. This austere mood suits our guest conductor wonderfully as a transition to the initially very pensive nature of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 6 – which, however, then ends in a sarcastic circus frenzy.  This is sure to be a moving experience, as the press raved about our cordial collaboration with the likeable Finn on the podium: »John Storgårds allowed for highly emotional, exuberant, free and joyful music-making, which the superb Bambergers savoured to the full. Everything was just right – a great moment!«

John Storgårds, Lucas & Arthur Jussen

Critics call Leonidas Kavakos’ interpretations of Shostakovich “utterly compelling.” Witness the magic live as the superstar Greek violinist returns to perform Shostakovich’s explosive, unpredictable Violin Concerto No. 2. To close, Stravinsky’s striking ballet score Petrushka dazzles with vivid colors, irresistible rhythms, incandescent brass and winds… a rich bouquet of assorted, ear-rousing moments!

Noseda conducts Stravinsky’s Petrushka Leonidas Kavakos plays Shostakovich

Kennedy Center

2025 sees the 50th anniversary of Shostakovich’s death, so in celebration of his life we take his firecracker Ninth Symphony on the road to Aberystwyth and Bangor this March. Small in scale, but full of humour this symphony came as a surprise to everyone at its premiere, with its touches of slapstick, jaunty themes and spirited dance-like feel.

Shostakovich 9 with Christoph König

Aberystwyth Arts Centre

Strauss 's second horn concerto was written 60 years after the first, in November 1942, in the middle of the war. He wrote it quickly, in just a few weeks, but the circumstances were difficult: Strauss was feeling his advanced age, worried about his Jewish daughter-in-law and her family - and the Battle of Stalingrad was raging in the East. The second horn concerto was a welcome escape for Strauss into cheerfulness and a better past. It is not only the most popular horn concerto of the 20th century, but also the most beautiful.

The year 1943

Anneliese Brost Musikforum Ruhr

Four Eastern European composers complement each other with works that are very different in both instrumentation and expression – from Prokofiev's quintet for oboe, clarinet, violin, viola and double bass to Janáček's 1st string quartet, nicknamed Kreuzer after Tolstoy's novel, with reference to Beethoven's violin sonata. Where Janácek's programmatic work has a romantic expression, Prokofiev's is more modern; almost circus-like. Originally the latter was composed for a dance performance, but the music is said to have been too complicated for the dancers; fortunately the work has survived. Both of these works were composed in the early twenties – 1923 and 24 respectively.

Prokofiev, Shostakovitch & Janacek

In the face of fear and the wake of the unimaginable, music offers the courage to rise up and shout out truths to which words cannot speak. Nkeiru Okoye responds to the events of September 11, 2001 with “a march to acknowledge those fighting on behalf of our safety, and yet a sparkling celebration of life for those of us who continue living.” Shostakovich’s monumental fifth symphony journeys from torment to rebirth under the oppressive watch of the Soviet state.

Rise

St. Catherine University

Did Sisyphus have dreams? And if so, what did he dream about? Perhaps of soft moss, which is good for resting on, said Jouni Kaipainen, but he certainly didn't dream of stones! With his narrative compositional style, the Finnish composer, who died in 2015, always managed to arouse the curiosity of his audience and captivate them with his musical imagination. Shostakovich's 1st Piano Concerto also exudes a playful approach. Shostakovich cleverly quotes Beethoven, Haydn and himself, cheerfully collages a wide variety of styles and lets a single trumpet appear in the accompanying string orchestra as a parodistic disruptive factor. The solo trumpeter of the Munich Philharmonic, Alexandre Baty, is the cheeky dialogue partner of the celebrated Turkish pianist Fazıl Say in this program. With Sibelius' majestic Second Symphony, which was associated with the Finnish struggle for independence immediately after its premiere, conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste takes the audience back to the Finnish forests — perhaps to a small mossy clearing that invites dreaming.

The longing Schostakowitsch Sibelius

Jessie Montgomery's Strum opens the evening with strings in focus, a contemporary piece of music that  crosses tradition and innovation.

Shostakovich's number one

Malmö Concert Hall

The Symphonic Dances is an exhilarating summary of Rachmaninov’s life’s work – rhythmically animated and truly symphonic, nostalgic and sarcastic. He creates a wondrous kaleidoscope of instrumental colours, from the mellow crooning of an alto saxophone to the dry-bones clatter of a xylophone, and with its incisive dance rhythms inspired by folk and jazz the work finally explodes with visceral energy. More akin to a symphony, Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto is a real tour de force of a piece, calling on everything in the violinist’s technical arsenal as well as vast physical and emotional stamina. The wide emotional range of its four-movement structure encompasses brooding, elegiac melancholy with savage, mocking sarcasm before it gives itself up totally to a rhythmic energy and brilliance of colour. Sibelius’ gem of a miniature masterpiece, Valse Triste, portrays a dance of death between a woman and the Grim Reaper, and is both haunting and poignant.

BSO: Symphonic Dances

Portsmouth Guildhall

Lighthouse, Poole's Centre for the Arts

Join us for an unforgettable evening of classical music at the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music's Festival Day 2, happening on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 7:30pm in the Leo Rich Theater. This night promises an exquisite lineup of performances by world-renowned musicians, featuring compositions from Mozart, Shostakovich, Martinů, and Schubert.

The program will open with Mozart's Oboe Quartet in F Major, K.370, brought to life by the talents of Martin Beaver on violin, Clive Greensmith on cello, Masumi Per Rostad on viola, and Steven Banks on oboe. Following this, the evening will continue with Shostakovich's Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67, performed by the Sitkovetsky Trio, including Alexander Sitkovetsky on violin, Wu Qian on piano, and Isang Enders on cello. The night will also feature Martinů's Variations on a Slovak Theme, H.378, with Clive Greensmith returning on cello alongside Wu Qian on piano. The grand finale will be Schubert's String Quartet No. 15 in G Major, D.887, presented by the Miró Quartet, featuring Daniel Ching and William Fedkenheuer on violins, John Largess on viola, and Joshua Gindele on cello.

Tickets are available for both in-person attendance and online streaming, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience this magnificent showcase of chamber music. Whether you're a long-time classical music enthusiast or new to the genre, this event is sure to leave you mesmerized by the beauty and complexity of chamber music performed at its highest level. Don't miss this highlight of the 2025 festival season!

Festival Day 2

Join us for an unforgettable evening of classical music with the world-renowned pianist Evgeny Kissin at the Auditorio Nacional de Música de Madrid. This exclusive performance, part of the Ibermúsica 2024-2025 Serie Arriaga, is scheduled for Monday, 3rd March 2025, at 19:30h. 

Evgeny Kissin, celebrated for his profound interpretations and technical brilliance, will grace the stage with a selection of masterpieces by Bach, Chopin, and Shostakóvich. The programme includes Bach's Partita No. 2 in C minor BWV826, a series of Chopin Nocturnes and Scherzo, and Shostakóvich's Sonata No. 2 in B minor, op.61, along with three of his Preludes and Fugues, showcasing the depth and versatility of Kissin's artistry.

Tickets are available starting from 45€, inclusive of a 10% VAT but exclusive of handling fees, which will be applied at payment. Please note that Ibermúsica reserves the right to make necessary changes to the programme or performers due to unforeseen circumstances. In the rare event of a concert cancellation, ticket holders will be offered a full refund, an alternative date, or a substitution of equal or superior quality.

All concerts in the series begin promptly at 19:30h, and late entry will not be permitted to ensure the enjoyment and integrity of the performance for all attendees.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the magic of Evgeny Kissin live in concert. For more information and to secure your seats, visit our website or contact our ticket office from Monday to Thursday, 10h to 18h, and Friday from 10h to 14h. 

Embrace the chance to be part of a memorable musical journey with Evgeny Kissin and Ibermúsica.

Evgeny Kissin - A9

National Music Auditorium

Radiant: Celebrate 60!

Trinity Christian College

Dmitri Shostakovich’s fifth symphony came about during a time of intense political persecution. The interpretation of this piece has been hotly debated since its premiere, as many saw it as a criticism of the then dictator, thinly veiled behind exuberant adoration. While we may never know the true meaning behind the composition, one thing is for sure: Shostakovich’s orchestration and thematic development create an extraordinary piece that has continued to mystify listeners and scholars to this day.

Dmitri Shostakovich

Composer

Events

Upcoming events

Mar 14 - Jun 1, 2025

UC Davis Symphony Orchestra · UC Davis Arts

17 - 19 Apr, 2025

Andris Nelsons conducts Beethoven and Shostakovich with Mitsuko Uchida, piano · Boston Symphony Orchestra

Apr 18, 2025

New World Symphony · Kravis Center

Apr 19, 2025

Deneve: Symphonie Fantastique · New World Symphony

Apr 20, 2025

Evgeny Kissin Piano Recital · San Francisco Symphony

Past events

17 - 19 Apr, 2025

Andris Nelsons conducts Beethoven and Shostakovich with Mitsuko Uchida, piano · Boston Symphony Orchestra

Apr 13, 2025

Santtu conducts Shostakovich and Mendelssohn · Philharmonia Orchestra

About

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