Pictures at an Exhibition | Philharmonia Orchestra

Grammy® award-winning American violinist Gil Shaham joins the Philharmonia in a vivid all Russian programme.

Shostakovich and Prokofiev trod an almost impossible line during the years of Soviet rule in Russia. The balancing act between expressing their own truth and satisfying the requirements of the regime was fraught with danger. On the surface, Shostakovich’s October, composed for the 50th anniversary of the 1917 Revolution, is a heroic piece in a straightforward film music style. But behind the bombast lies a characteristic hint of sarcasm.

Lyrical, long-breathed melodies, perfectly suited to Shaham’s warm tone, fill the first two movements of Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto. But the violin’s singing lines are tinged with darkness, and give way to a tumultuous, stumbling dance in the finale.

Mussorgsky’s best loved work crowns this evening’s programme. It’s a musical promenade around an actual exhibition by the composer’s friend Viktor Hartmann, encompassing characters from Russian fairytales, views of Paris and Rome, and the imposing Great Gate of Kiev.