Andrew is a writer and teacher whose work has appeared in The Strad and International Record Review. He is particularly interested in Russian music and the violin. He also writes about music at his blog Devil's Trill and can also be found on Twitter at @devilstrillblog.
A remarkable feat of memorisation – a whole orchestra and no music! – made for an illuminating and exciting introduction to the Soviet composer's “victory” symphony.
A disparate set of pieces are connected to an intriguing theme in mostly successful performances, including Shostakovich from cellist Alisa Weilerstein.
Widely regarded as the greatest composer of the generation after Shostakovich, Alfred Schnittke's music plays with time, style, and the biggest questions of all.
Some rare and some great Shostakovich meet in concert while the BBC National Orchestra of Wales make an engrossing case for Sibelius' great Second Symphony.
Shostakovich's mighty piano cycle is given a delicate and intense performance - truly an expidition into some of the most personal of the composer's music.
