CARDIFF Philharmonic Orchestra brings down the curtain on its 2015/16 with a stunning performance of Shostakovich’s Leningrad Symphony at St David’s Hall on Saturday June 25 at 7.30pm.
Seventy-five years ago in October 1941 at the height of World War II, the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich began writing one of the most famous works to be borne out of war. The first performance was given in Kuibyshev on March 5 1942.
The symphony became a beacon of defiance for the Russians whose country was being ravaged by the invading Nazi forces. A microfilm of the score was smuggled out of Russia for performances by Sir Henry Wood in London and Arturo Toscanini in New York, and was followed by countless recitals worldwide. The symphony was performed in Leningrad by starving musicians on August 9 1942.
The Leningrad Symphony is scored for huge forces and is a work that is best heard in the immediacy of a live performance for its full emotional impact. Conductor for the evening will be Michael Bell and he will be joined by the guest pianist Alexander Ullman (not Dawn Hardwick as previously advertised).
Before the Leningrad Symphony brings the concert to a rousing finale, the orchestra will also perform one of Rachmaninov’s most brilliantly virtuoso works, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.
To book seats www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk or call the Box Office on 029 2087 8444
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