Rachmaninov began writing his Fourth Piano Concerto in 1914 but was interrupted by the outbreak of war – he returned to the work in the mid-20s and gave the première in 1927. Dedicated to his friend, the pianist and composer Nikolai Medtner, it bears all the hallmarks of Rachmaninov’s characteristic style: passionate lyricism, rich harmonies and dazzling displays of pianistic fireworks. War played an altogether greater part in Shostakovich’s composition of his Ninth Symphony. A ‘victory symphony’ in praise of Stalin’s victory against Hitler in 1945 was expected but Shostakovich was all too aware of the terrible cost of war and his attempt failed. A work of brittle lightness, Shostakovich later recounted ‘Stalin was deeply offended because there was no chorus, no soloists. And no apotheosis…’