January 1905: Russia teeters on the brink of revolution 鈥� and as crowds of protesters fill St Petersburg鈥檚 Palace Square, great and terrible events are about to unfold. With its furious trumpets, revolutionary songs and clanging alarm bells, Shostakovich鈥檚 massive Eleventh Symphony has the immediacy and vividness of a great film score, charged with symphonic power and a profound sense of human tragedy. As a former music director of the Bolshoi, Alexander Vedernikov understands how to find the drama in this panoramic score, as well as matching 大象传媒 SSO favourite Denis Kozhukhin, flourish for flourish and melody for melody in Tchaikovsky鈥檚 battle-royale of a First Piano Concerto.

Prelude: 6.45pm in the Recital Room
Soviet music specialist Dr Pauline Fairclough of the University of Bristol, introduces Shostakovich鈥檚 Eleventh Symphony.

(approximate finish time: 9.30pm)

The concert will be broadcast live on 大象传媒 Radio 3, presented by Kate Molleson.