Playful Shostakovich

Celebrate Shostakovich’s greatest works with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at Lighthouse, Poole on Wednesday 11 February, 7.30pm. This concert sees the return of Conductor Laureate & Artistic Director of Voices from the East Kirill Karabits, who conducts Pianist Alim Beisembayev.These charming variations on an original theme display the teenage Shostakovich’s increasing mastery of the sound of the orchestra and contain one or two surprises that must have shocked his conservative teachers. Shostakovich’s Second Piano Concerto stands miles apart from many of his other works in its sense of freedom and abandon. It is a gloriously free, wistful creation – an unrestrained delight from start to finish, particularly in the soulful and heart-rending slow tempo; opening with a cloud-shrouded string theme before the piano enters like the sun breaking through. The music from the ballet The Bolt is as accomplished as anything Shostakovich wrote. Overflowing with charm and laced with the driest of wit, the suite is a swirl of tipsy tunes, musical raspberries and slinky, laugh-out-loud rhythms. Bursting with energy and catchy tunes, the satirical parody Moscow Cheryomushki shows Shostakovich at his best when it came to light music. Mocking the corruption and idealism of the USSR in the post-Stalin era. The music, full of subversive undercurrents and parodies of the Russian musical cannon, playfully highlights the operetta’s wit, candour and insight.Works and composers:Shostakovich - Theme and VariationsShostakovich - Piano Concerto No.2Shostakovich - The Bolt SuiteShostakovich - Moscow Cheryomushki SuiteThis concert is part of an ongoing series on Wednesday evenings at Lighthouse, Poole. Multibuy discounts are on offer for all concerts booked through the BSO Box Office – so the more you visit, the more you save! They will also be streaming 19 Digital Concerts this season so check out their What’s On page on bsolive.com, to see which concerts you can watch from the comfort of your own home.