Shostakovich 6

Led by conductor Daniel Raiskin, the Residentie Orkest has compiled a surprising evening. The great Dmitri Shostakovich’s fiftieth death anniversary will be honoured with a performance of his Symphony No. 6. It is a fascinating work: temperamental, ironic, sharp. But the evening commences with the premiere of a work by Max Knigge, and the expressive musical world of Grieg’s Piano Concerto – one of the best-known works for piano and orchestra.

The Dutch composer Max Knigge is a storyteller of a new Dutch generation. His musical idiom is exciting and dynamic, and crawls under your skin. His premiere is flanked by another musical storyteller: Edvard Grieg. Master pianist Antti Siirala will immerse the audience in the Norwegian romance of Grieg’s Piano Concerto. As the famous opening chords and arpeggios progress into an intimate, playful beauty, the piece offers a perfect contrast to Shostakovich’s No.6. The result is a versatile and surprising concert evening.