Shostakovich: Symphony No 5 | Philharmonia Orchestra

Rising-star conductor Xian Zhang leads a performance of Shostakovich’s towering fifth Symphony, alongside Brahms’s radiant Violin Concerto.

The possible hidden meanings within Shostakovich's Symphony No 5, composed under political pressure from Stalin’s regime, have long fascinated audiences and critics alike. Along the way, expect a beautiful melody evoking Carmen, circus-inspired spectacle, and majestic brass chords. But beyond the Soviet heroism lies something more: framed by the musical drama lies the hushed religious contemplation of the third movement, the tender heart of the symphony that moved the audience to tears at its 1937 premiere.

Before, Alina Pogostkina, winner of the 2005 International Sibelius Violin Competition, performs Brahms’s memorable Violin Concerto. Framed by two virtuosic outer movements, the gentle second movement features one of the most heartfelt melodies written for violin.