It鈥檚 impossible to separate Shostakovich鈥檚 Fifth Symphony from its context. Written in response to criticism by Stalin鈥檚 regime, his artistic reputation 鈥� and possibly his life 鈥� hung on its success. It鈥檚 always a riveting, enthralling experience and our Associate Conductor Alpesh Chauhan is sure to draw out its black humour as well as its profoundly moving qualities. Before then, we鈥檙e taken to sunnier climes, bringing some Iberian authenticity to his portrayal of Cervantes鈥檚 great literary hero. Then, Richard Strauss鈥檚 light-hearted adaptation is sure to be a knockout 鈥� bleating sheep, creaking windmills, flying sequences and all!
