| Britten, Benjamin (1913-1976) | Violin Concerto, Op.15 | |
| Shostakovich, Dmitri (1906-1975) | Symphony no. 10 in E minor, Op.93 |
| Sir Antonio Pappano | Conductor |
| Janine Jansen | Violin |
| London Symphony Orchestra |
The Concert
Violinist Janine Jansen showcases Britten’s soulful concerto before the LSO launches into Shostakovich’s scathing criticism of Stalin.
The Music
There’s a sparky energy and bittersweet lyricism to Britten’s 1939 Violin Concerto that nods to Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev. But this is also a deeply personal work that helped boost Britten’s international reputation.
Russian soprano Galina Vishnevskaya called Shostakovich’s blistering Symphony No 10 ‘a composer’s testament of misery, forever damning a tyrant.’ Premiered soon after Stalin’s death, the work blends solemnity and mocking sneers that are as powerful as anything the composer wrote.
The Performers
One of today’s most expressive and technically impressive violinists, Janine Jansen has made Britten’s Concerto her own in recent years, while the LSO has a long and illustrious history with Shostakovich.
Public booking opens Wednesday 16 April 10am