Shostakovich & Beethoven with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall

On 3 February, Royal Festival Hall hosts a powerful evening of musical contrasts as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Vasily Petrenko, brings together darkness and light in one striking programme.

At its core is Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 — tense, coded and emotionally devastating, featuring the infamous scherzo often linked to the shadow of Stalin. Few conductors understand this symphony as deeply as Petrenko, whose interpretations are widely praised for their intensity. The programme also includes Galina Ustvolskaya’s haunting The Dream of Stepan Razin for baritone and orchestra.

In sharp contrast comes Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 — youthful, exuberant and full of sparkling wit — performed by one of Britain’s most celebrated pianists, Benjamin Grosvenor.

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