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Unwrapping an enigma: Gergiev’s electrifying Shostakovich 15

By Mark Pullinger, 13 May 2015
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Reviewed at Barbican Hall, London on 12 May 2015
Programme
Balakirev, Oriental Fantasy, "Islamey", Op.18 (arr. Lyapunov)
Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto in D major, Op.35
Shostakovich, Symphony no. 15 in A major, Op.141
Performers
London Symphony Orchestra
Valery Gergiev, Conductor
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, Violin
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Read reviews of
Dmitri ShostakovichLondon Symphony OrchestraMily Alexeyevich BalakirevNikolaj Szeps-ZnaiderOriental Fantasy, "Islamey", Op.18Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskySymphony no. 15 in A major, Op.141Valery GergievViolin Concerto in D major, Op.35
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Mark Pullinger
Mark Pullinger
Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.