Schnittke, Shostakovich and Brahms

The Music

Schnittke remarked that he saw a ‘desperate striving to find myself’ in his First Violin Concerto. His self-criticism seems harsh, for this is a brilliantly original work, shimmering with instrumental colour.

Shostakovich’s Second Symphony was written to mark the 10th anniversary of the 1917 Revolution. Its final moments feature a triumphant text praising Lenin, heralded by a factory whistle. What comes before is a fascinating montage of sounds and textures.

Brahms’ ‘Song of Destiny’ is an inspiring choral work, moving from nobility through tempestuousness to a glorious resolution.

The Performers

Violinist Lisa Batiashvili has been collaborating with the LSO for nearly two decades, exploring music from Bach to Berg, Beethoven to Prokofiev. In 2024/25 she joins us for her Artist Portrait series in London and on tour, exploring a trio of Violin Concertos. She begins with Schnittke’s First Violin Concerto, a work she says she is ‘particularly looking forward to playing … bringing attention to a piece that was for a long time overshadowed.’

LSO Principal Guest Conductor Gianandrea Noseda conducts, concluding his cycle of Shostakovich’s symphonies with the Second. The London Symphony Chorus joins at the conclusion of the concert, for a stirring account of the Brahms.