Concertgebouw Orchestra plays Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich

Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1

The sensational Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang will join the Concertgebouw Orchestra in a performance of Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto, one of the most dramatic solo concertos ever written. The composer wisely waited until Stalin was dead before releasing the work, which violates every Soviet doctrine. Fear, sorrow, hysterical mirth, and a fighting spirit: Vilde Frang captures all the nuances within Shostakovich’s rich emotional palette. Unforgettable, even before the first note is heard.

Rachmaninov

Veteran conductor Semyon Bychkov is an all-rounder with a unique flair for Russian repertoire. He pairs the tragedy of Shostakovich with the astonishing vitality of an elderly Rachmaninov. Rachmaninov was living in the United States, torn from his Russian routes, when he composed the Symphonic Dances, reflecting on his youthful loves and exorcising his demons.