National Philharmonic of Russia olv. Vladimir Spivakov

Even some of the best pianists shy away from it. The legendary 'Rach 3', technically searing and emotionally exhausting, is pretty much the highest cliff that a pianist can scale. We are curious to see how rising star Tae-Hyung Kim pulls it off. With his warm colours and melodious lines, he was the stand-out winner of the 2010 Queen Elizabeth Competition. Well-known veteran Vladimir Spivakov will be waving the baton. All this guarantees authentic Russian spirit, as does the second work of the evening. With his Fifth Symphony, Shostakovich achieved unparalleled acclaim from critics and audiences alike. Outwardly, he marches to the tune of the Soviet government, quite literally in the outer movements. At a deeper level, however, he does things his own way. With Mahler's 'Gesellschaftbildende Kraft' he takes you with him on an emotional journey. Like many others, he had lost many friends and family members under Stalin's reign of terror. No wonder that the macabre, grieving atmosphere of the third movement caused so many tears to well up at the premiere. Today, the work has lost none of its impact - it is 'number 18' in the chart of the greatest symphonies of all time.