Santtu conducts Sibelius, Lindberg & Shostakovich

A few days after the Philharmonia’s 80th birthday, marked by two concerts at Carnegie Hall, the orchestra joins forces with dazzling trombonist Christian Lindberg in a programme that sings of freedom.

The possible hidden meanings within Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony, composed under pressure from Stalin’s regime, have long fascinated listeners. There are generous helpings of spectacle along the road to the symphony’s triumphant ending – but is the triumph genuine or ironic? Amid the heroism and drama lies the hushed, almost religious contemplation of the third movement, the tender heart of the symphony that moved the audience to tears at its 1937 premiere.

To open this birthday celebration, the Philharmonia’s Finnish Principal Conductor Santtu has chosen Sibelius’s hymn to his homeland, the adopted anthem of Finland’s struggle for independence from Russia. Amid the resurgence of extremist politics in the US and around Europe, and the continuing conflict in Ukraine, the messages in Sibelius’s and Shostakovich’s music stand as warning and inspiration for us today.

Named the ‘Greatest Brass Player in History’ by Classic FM, Lindberg has single-handedly taken the trombone to new heights as a solo instrument. He has given over 300 premieres, including his own works, and recorded over 100 solo albums. His hugely enjoyable concerto Golden Eagle allows his astounding virtuosity to soar.