Shostakovich’s Eighth

A performance by Alexei Volodin is always sure to draw crowds regardless of the work he will be playing. But a Mozart concerto is especially appropriate, as an opportunity for progress towards the goal of performing his complete works in consecutive seasons. The Piano Concerto No. 12 was composed shortly after his arrival in Vienna, at a time of personal and professional affirmation. It does not seek a show of technical prowess, but something much more complex: it exudes the charisma of Mozart’s spontaneous and imaginative personality. The soloist’s brilliance and the orchestral narrative feed off each other, with a clear and communicative composition style.

On the other side of the programme, and with an equally striking expressiveness, L’Auditori’s main hall will host Dmitri Shostakovich’s grand Symphony No. 8, written in 1943 in the midst of the Second World War. Far from the official “triumphalism” of the time, the score constructs an extensive and stark narrative, marked by tension and bitter irony. Structured in five movements, it alternates vast landscapes with episodes of relentless rhythmic violence, culminating in an ambiguously serene finale. Under the baton of Michael Sanderling, a musician with a distinguished international career from a family of renowned musicians, the performance is sure to be meticulous and moving.

Price from €25