Andris Nelsons conducts Shostakovich – Symphony No. 5

Within the 2014/2015 season, Andris Nelsons is leading the RCO in three programmes, all featuring symphonies by Dmitry Shostakovich. The Fifth Symphony was presented as a public penance in 1937, when the composer had been rebuked by the Communist regime for producing music that failed to reflect Soviet ideals. Juxtaposed with Shostakovich’s dramatic symphony is the Oboe Concerto by Richard Strauss, who was born 150 years ago. This melodic work is dominated by nostalgia for a world that was lost forever, Strauss having written it towards the end of his life shortly after the Second World War. With the Nocturne by Marius Flothuis, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is commemorating not only a composer – Flothuis also served as the orchestra’s artistic director for many years.