Tag Archives: Shostakovich

Prom 53: Shostakovich’s Orango keeps the Red Flag flying over South Kensington

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Mark Pullinger

Bartók/Mozart/Shostakovich: Philharmonia/Salonen *** Royal Albert Hall, 24th August 2015 Fervent flag-waving is usually reserved for the Last Night of the Proms, so what was going on in this Philharmonia concert? The Arena was awash with a sea of red flags, … Continue reading →

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A candle for Shostakovich: the Carducci Quartet’s Globe marathon

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Mark Pullinger

Shostakovich: String Quartets 1-15 ***** Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, 9th August 2015 “It’s been a journey,” is an empty expression, often quoted by celebrities as they’re booted off the latest reality TV programme. Yet it accurately summed up the experience of … Continue reading →

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Unwrapping an enigma: Gergiev’s electrifying Shostakovich 15

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Mark Pullinger

Balakirev, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich: LSO/Gergiev ***** Barbican Hall, 12th May 2015 “A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.” That description could apply to Shostakovich’s Fifteenth Symphony, with its impish musical quotations punctuating its dark brooding character. It would also … Continue reading →

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Impish Shostakovich and epic Sibelius from Yuja Wang, MTT and the LSO

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Mark Pullinger

Shostakovich/Sibelius :LSO/ Tilson Thomas **** Barbican Hall, 15th March 2015 Ahead of its US tour with Michael Tilson Thomas, the London Symphony Orchestra flexed its muscles in a display of orchestral strength on home turf in the Barbican. Thursday’s concert, … Continue reading →

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Blistering Shostakovich from Vasily Petrenko and the London Philharmonic

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Mark Pullinger

Rachmaninov/ Shostakovich: LPO/Jurowski **** Royal Festival Hall, 13th February 2015 Blistering Shostakovich crushed Rachmaninov in this uneven pairing, the London Philharmonic’s latest exploration into “Rachmaninoff: Inside out”. Self-imposed exile after the Russian Revolution saw Rachmaninov settle in the United States, … Continue reading →

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