Performer: Marco Bellasi

Baldur Brönnimann conducted a storming performance of Shostakovich's “Leningrad” Symphony after a bold and original Tchaikovsky First Piano Concerto from Ryan Drucker.

Lust, betrayal, beheadings. The words appeared prominently in the publicity for Opera Seria’s debut production of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena, bringing Horrible Histories fleetingly to mind, but they do sum up the plot of one of the composer’s greatest works rather well.