Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony
Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony
BEANBAG CONCERT SERIES
Aurora Orchestra performs Dmitri Shostakovich's defiant Fifth Symphony by memory.
In 1936, Shostakovich’s new opera was slammed by the official Soviet paper Pravda as ‘muddle instead of music’. In Joseph Stalin’s Russia, a review like that could be deadly. Shostakovich knew he had to redeem himself fast. The result was his life-saving Fifth Symphony.
From the intense, militaristic energy of the outer movements to the heartfelt anguish of the Largo, the work is a vibrant mix of styles and shifting moods. There’s even a touch of humour in the second movement, evoking whimsical circus.
Aurora Orchestra and their founder-conductor Nicholas Collon bring their acclaimed performance style to this beanbag concert. Playing from memory, they breathe fresh life into Shostakovich’s sensational work. Alongside it, experience Abel Selaocoe’s Four Spirits, a work designed to create a powerful sense of connection with its listeners.
Aurora Orchestra under the baton of Nicholas Collon, reminded us that music matters at every stage of life, including the closing years
Programme
A keepsake freesheet is available at the venue for this performance.
Full programme
Abel Selaocoe (arr. Benjamin Woodgates) Four Spirits
Shostakovich Symphony No.5 in D minor, Op.47
Performers
CloseOpen
- Aurora Orchestra
- Nicholas CollonConductor
- Abel SelaocoeCello & Voice
- Bernhard SchimpelsbergerPercussion
Aurora OrchestraCloseOpen
- ConductorNicholas Collon
- Violin 1Alexandra Wood
Emily Davis
Lonneke van Straalen
Doriane Gable
Alexandra Raikhlina
Elizabeth Cooney
Ian Watson
Tom Aldren
Bridget O'Donnell
Michael Jones
Greta Mutlu
Ronald Long
Alex Lomeiko
Elise Scheurer - Violin 2Eva Thorarinsdottir
Laura Vikman
Elvira van Groningen
Tamara Elias
Gillon Cameron
Lara Sullivan
Hannah Bell
Anna Caban
Yuliya Ostapchuk
Flora Fontanelli
Katrina Lee
Alicia Berendse - ViolaRuth Gibson
Miguel Sobrinho
Christine Anderson
Richard Waters
Dunia Ershova
Kay Stephen
Anna Barsegjana
Kasia Ziminska
Connie Pharoah
Clem Pickering - CelloSébastien van Kuijk
Reinoud Ford
Ben Chappell
Adi Tal
Alexander Holladay
Ariana Kashefi
Rebecca Herman
Charlotte Kaslin - Double BassBen Griffiths
Marianne Schofield
Lucía Polo Moreno
Martin Ludenbach
Toby Hughes
Ben Havinden-Williams - FluteJane Mitchell
Sarah Bennett - PiccoloRebecca Larsen
- OboeArmand Djikoloum
Katie Bennington - ClarinetTimothy Orpen
Max Welford - Eb ClarinetEmma Burgess
- BassoonAmy Harman
Dominic Tyler - ContrabassoonFraser Gordon
- HornAnnemarie Federle
Amadea Dazeley-Gaist
Flora Bain - TrumpetAaron Akugbo
Sam Kinrade
Holly Clark
James Nash - TromboneJamie Tweed
Benny Vernon - Bass TromboneJames Buckle
- TubaSasha Koushk-Jalali
- TimpaniTom Pritchard
- PercussionHenry Baldwin
Jacob Brown
Laura Bradford
Francesca Lombardelli - HarpSally Pryce
Daniel De Fry - Piano/CelesteJohn Reid
Dive Deeper
One must speak the truth about the past or not at allDmitri Shostakovich
To help people understand classical music you have to present it in a different way...It’s about being able to tell a story in a great wayAbel Selaocoe