An enlightening journey to the heart of darkness

By Frank Kuznik, 19 May 2015

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Reviewed at Municipal House: Smetana Hall, Prague on 17 May 2015

Shostakovich, Violin Concerto no. 1 in A minor, Op.77 or Op.99

Shostakovich, Symphony no. 5 in D minor, Op.47

St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra

Yuri Temirkanov, Conductor

Julian Rachlin, Violin

St Petersburg meets Beethoven and Mahler in Lugano

Sarah Batschelet, 16th September

Ion Marin and the St Petersburg Philharmonic perform in the beautiful LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura.

***11

Trampled by the Russian troika

Jane Shuttleworth, 26th January

The St Petersburg Philharmonic unleash all the unstoppable forces of Russian excess in a programme of Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev at Sage Gateshead.

****1

Temirkanov and Leticia Moreno: tradition and the future, together in Barcelona

Pep Gorgori, 23rd May

Temirkanov avoided any useless gesture, while Leticia Moreno explored all the pain, sadness and violence of Shostakovich’s Concerto

*****

Taking Shostakovich on tour

Frank Kuznik, 1st March

In the American heartland, a persuasive evening of musical diplomacy from the St Petersburg Philharmonic.

****1

Soviet blockbusters from the St Petersburg Phil

Mark Pullinger, 29th January

The St Petersburg Philharmonic playing Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony – a work it premiered in 1937 as the Leningrad Philharmonic – was a highlight of a superb concert concluding its UK tour.

*****

Variety and dance from the St Petersburg Phil

Jane Shuttleworth, 21st January

The St Petersburg Philharmonic make their contribution to Sage Gateshead's year long theme of dance, delighting a sold-out Hall One with their luxurious sound.

****1

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Frank Kuznik

Frank Kuznik is the former Editor-in-Chief and Culture Editor of The Prague Post, Central Europe’s premier English-language weekly newspaper. He currently divides his time between Prague and his hometown in the US, Cleveland, where he covers northeast Ohio's dynamic classical music scene. In Prague he is an habitué of the Rudolfinum, National Theater, State Opera and other storied classical music venues, and an unabashed fan of Czech music.

An enlightening journey to the heart of darkness: Shostakovich in Prague