Alexander Shelley conducts Russian Greats

Encompassing the hallmark romanticism of the nineteenth century and the political angst of the Soviet Union, this all-Russian programme features some of the most distinctive works in the classical repertoire. The ebullience of the popular Overture to Glinka’s five-act Ruslan and Lyudmila is contrasted with Rachmaninov’s lavish Piano Concerto No.2, performed by Italian pianist Alessio Bax. Shostakovich’s imposing Symphony No.5 was completed just a few years before the outbreak of World War Two, at a time when Soviet composers were pressured to conform to requisites set by the authorities; the blend of satire and submission has intrigued audiences ever since its conception, while the triumphant Finale continues to astound to this day.