An all-Russian evening, opening with Borodin’s spectacular Polovtsian Dances from his most famous opera Prince Igor. Shostakovich’s first Violin Concerto is often sad and searching, opening with a long nocturnal lament and featuring an intensely beautiful third movement passacaglia, in which the soloist performs against a simple timpani accompaniment. Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony is equally troubled, though its emotion is expressed more dramatically, through repeated major emotional climaxes and a cruelly dominant musical 'Fate' motif, right until the symphony’s brave and triumphant ending.
More concerts at Royal Festival Hall
Volodos in recital
May 22 2012, 19:30 - Royal Festival Hall
Arcadi Volodos performs Schubert's Piano Sonata in A minor, Brahms' 3 Intermezzi and Sonata in B minor by Liszt
Ashkenazy conducts in London
May 24 2012, 19:30 - Royal Festival Hall
Vladimir Ashkenazy conducts Shostakovich's Babi Yar Symphony, an epic piece of powerful criticism. Also performed is Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3, performed by Nobuyuki Tsujii








