The return of Andris Nelsons for the Seventh in his complete cycle of Shostakovich symphonies with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra demonstrated yet again the marvellous chemistry between the two. In a highly aerobic work-out, the Latvian conductor prodded and beckoned the RCO, resulting in both a deeply harrowing and subtly hopeful interpretation of Shostakovich’s Symphony no. 7 in C major “Leningrad”. Janine Jansen’s hyper-sensual rendition of Béla Bartók’s Violin Concerto no. 1 preceded the towering performance; her fierce fragility contrasted Shostakovich’s roar in this well balanced programme.