In Stalin’s Russia, music really was a matter of life and death. Written under political oppression, Shostakovich gambled everything on his Fifth Symphony, and when it was first played, the audience wept – and then cheered. Make no mistake, this is a musical thriller with a devastating emotional punch, and tonight Principal Guest Conductor Patrick Hahn sets the scene with another Cold War classic, Schnittke’s haunting Viola Concerto, with the brilliant Lawrence Power as soloist. Expect shadows, secrets and some powerful surprises. Gain insight into the music with our musicians at the pre-concert talk at 6.45pm in the Upper Circle Bar in Edinburgh and the Clyde Foyer in Glasgow. Free to ticket holders. The running time of this concert is approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, including a 20-minute interval.

Description supplied by the event organiser.