Russian Roots

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.