London Symphony Orchestra, Pappano & Vengerov

Shostakovich wrote his Eighth Symphony in 1943, during the infamous Battle of Stalingrad. It is the second of his three war symphonies, and without doubt his most tragic composition. Airy strings open the piece above growling basses with long drawn-out, interwoven melodies. That is a very different beginning to the four soft beats of the timpani in Beethoven’s only Violin Concerto. Some believe that the recurrent timpani motif in the first movement reflects the euphoric mood that prevailed during the French Revolution.  Conducted by Antonio Pappano, the renowned London Symphony Orchestra performs these masterpieces that both bear the traces of history. Acclaimed violinist Maxim Vengerov takes on the solo.