Oeuvre: Symphonie no. 4 en ut mineur, Op. 43

Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s recent debut with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra was a dazzling Beethoven-Shostakovich programme that epitomised the “power of music”.

Higgins never forgets that the concerto form has a playful element

It’s always a heart-warming sight to see so many young people at the Barbican as members of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain shared the stage with equal composure as the London Symphony Chorus and string players from the LSO.

There were memorable moments, as Noseda continued his advocacy of Sir James MacMillan and Shostakovich symphony cycle. Yet Noseda’s maximalist approach had its costs, as it was only in the opening Kodály that found Noseda at his best.

Nelsons präsentiert mit den Bostonern eine hinreißende Vierte Schostakowitschs. Als Kontrast vorab interpretiert Baiba Skride die selten gespielte Serenade von Bernstein.