RSNO: Shostakovich Seven

We begin this evening with the bold and familiar sounds of Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, a brief work for brass and percussion that sets a resonant tone for the music to follow. You will then hear the UK premiere of Lera Auerbach’s Violin Concerto No. 1. This twenty-eight-minute piece provides a contemporary contrast to the opening, moving the focus to the intricate interplay between the soloist and the orchestra. After the interval, we turn to the vast proportions of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7, known as the Leningrad. At seventy minutes in length, it is a work of immense scale and historical weight. Listen for the famous repeated snare drum figure in the first movement, which builds through a long, relentless crescendo. The symphony moves from this mechanical intensity through moments of haunting solitude and mourning, eventually reaching a conclusion of massive orchestral volume. The entire programme explores how music responds to times of crisis and the strength of the human spirit.

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is one of the United Kingdom’s leading symphonic ensembles, based in Glasgow but performing regularly across Scotland. They are joined by conductor Bassem Akiki to navigate this large-scale programme. The evening features violinist Philippe Quint, who takes the solo role in the Auerbach concerto. Quint is well-regarded for his technical precision and his commitment to performing contemporary works. Together, the performers bring the necessary depth and power required for these twentieth and twenty-first-century compositions, ranging from intimate solo passages to the sheer force of a full brass section.

The performance takes place at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh and has a total duration of approximately one hundred and twenty minutes, including an interval. This is a substantial evening of music, particularly due to the length of the final symphony, which may be a significant undertaking for those new to orchestral concerts. The venue is a traditional concert hall and there is no specific dress code required. Tickets are available starting from fifteen pounds. Please note that the second half of the concert consists of a single seventy-minute work without interruption.