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Beethoven and Shostakovich

London Symphony Orchestra/Gianandrea Noseda

,Barbican Hall
Photo of Gianandrea Noseda in black suit

Gianandrea Noseda pits Shostakovich's deeply affecting poem of suffering against the fourth of Beethoven's piano concertos, a theatrical tour-de-force.

The last of Beethoven’s own works that he could perform before becoming totally deaf, the Fourth Piano Concerto is a proudly unique creation. Rather than have the soloist and orchestra co-operating and collaborating, Beethoven has them facing off against each other, with the orchestra bellowing in anger at times, 'like Orpheus confronting the shades of Hell' wrote E M Forster.

A vision of hell could also be ascribed to Shostakovich's Eighth Symphony; ‘an attempt to reflect the terrible tragedy of war’ the composer said, a war in which 27 million of his fellow Russians were killed. The fourth movement is possibly the most terrifying music Shostakovich ever wrote. We travel from darkness into light, yearning more for peace than for victory.

Tagged with: Classical music London Symphony Orchestra 2017-18 Multibuy London Symphony Orchestra 2017–18

Programme

  • Beethoven   Piano Concerto No 4
  • Shostakovich   Symphony No 8

Performers

  • London Symphony Orchestra  
  • Gianandrea Noseda   conductor
  • Nikolai Lugansky   piano
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Barbican Hall

Location
The Barbican Hall is located within the main Barbican building. Head to Level G and follow the signs to find your seating level. 

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
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