MacMillan and Shostakovich 12

The Festive Overture is exactly that: a sprightly, light-touch of a piece composed in only three days. MacMillan’s orchestral music is sometimes likened to Shostakovich’s. His new Concerto, with its dark colours and folk-like melodies, sits well between two of the Russian composer’s works. The darkness is dispelled at the end, concluding with great serenity.

Shostakovich’s Symphony No 12 was written in memory of Lenin and the 1917 Revolution. From an ominous beginning the music continues without break until its triumphant finale – optimistic, at the time, of better things to come.