Beethoven's Emperor Concerto and Shostakovich | London Symphony Orchestra

Beethoven’s last concerto meets Shostakovich’s final symphony, and in the hands of Gianandrea Noseda and Beatrice Rana, they both have something remarkable to say.

Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto begins with a huge chord, and a mighty flourish from the piano. Shostakovich’s Fifteenth Symphony … well, it’s a bit more complicated than that. But one thing’s for certain: this is a final symphony like no other, bristling with mystery, irony and (beneath it all) a sincerity and an emotional commitment that’s impossible to ignore.

Gianandrea Noseda understands all that. A devoted champion of Russian music, he’s ideally placed to uncover the mysteries (and share the humour) of this enigmatic modern masterpiece – and to uncover its kinship with Beethoven’s majestic concerto. This is the concerto that’s often called the ‘Emperor’, and when it’s played by Beatrice Rana – described by the New York Times as ‘one of the most insightful and prodigiously gifted artists of the new generation’ – it’ll do more than merely stir the blood.