Proms 2024 Prom 16: Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 4

As their acclaimed Shostakovich recording series continues, the BBC Philharmonic and Chief Conductor John Storgårds bring one
of the composer’s boldest symphonies to the Proms. The Fourth, a bleak and ferociously powerful work, was withdrawn before its planned premiere for fear of reprisal from Joseph Stalin, who had recently denounced Shostakovich’s opera Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District. Before the interval we hear Canadian composer Cassandra Miller’s new viola concerto, titled I cannot love without trembling and written for leading player Lawrence Power.

Broadcast live on BBC Radio 3

John Storgårds © Marco Borggreve