Teodor Currentzis at La Monnaie

Dmitry Shostakovich composed his Ninth Symphony in 1945, glorifying the Russian victory over Nazi Germany. In contrast to the dark drama of his earlier symphonies, this one stands out for its transparency, clarity and liveliness. We encounter the same cheerfulness in his Second Piano Concerto, composed more than twelve years later, which has always remained one of his most popular works. A completely different atmosphere is to be found in the work of Benjamin Britten: in the midst of the Second World War, he composed his Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, a cycle of songs focusing on the theme of the night. It is with these three major 20th-century works that Teodor Currentzis and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra are launching The Shostakovich Trilogy. The solo parts are performed by world-class musicians: the pianist Alexander Melnikov and the tenor Ian Bostridge.