As Hitler’s armies surrounded the city of Leningrad, Dmitri Shostakovich composed his Seventh Symphony – a shout of courage, defiance and victory, written for massed battalions of musicians.

Brace yourself for wartime drama on a heroic scale as Bassem Akiki conducts the mighty The Royal Scottish National Orchestra in this sonic blockbuster: the climax of a concert that begins with Copland’s showstopping fanfare and stars a real RSNO favourite, violinist Philippe Quint, in a violin concerto with a dazzling difference.

Sinfonia Smith Square performs Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7 alongside the The Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Several of our alumni are now full members of the RSNO including founding member of the Sinfonia, Principal Oboe Adrian Wilson, as well as First Violin Veronica Marziano and Double Bass Alexandre Cruz dos Santos. 

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. The Dundee talk will take place in the Marryat Hall at 2:15pm. Free to ticket holders.

The running time of this concert is approximately 2 hours, including a 20-minute interval.

Please note that these performances will take place at Usher Hall, Edinburgh; Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow; and Caird Hall, Dundee.

Image: John Gress