Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9 was first performed in Leningrad (formerly and currently known as Saint Petersburg) just after the end of World War Two, yet it is one of the Russian composer's most upbeat symphonies, featuring Haydn-like humour and a neoclassical lightness of tone. Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor is a superb example of the blending of national traditions, European musical heritage and original thought. The final movement features a symphonic interpretation of the halling, a Norwegian folk dance, and sounds in certain sections which imitate a Norwegian folk fiddle.
Polanaise is the prelude to the third act from Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin, which premiered in 1879. The Polonaise, which sets the mood for a ball organised by a rich Saint Petersburg aristocrat, has become a popular orchestral piece in its own right.
The concert concludes with Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. This revolutionary, innovative masterpiece is perhaps the most played piece in the history of symphonic music. The four main themes of the composition, represented by four different sounds, feature in each of the four movements. The leading emotional arc of the piece, which ranges from tragedy to victorious splendour, can be interpreted as a musical expression of the composer's deafness and the superhuman will to overcome.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest