Subscription Concert 7 by Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, P. I., Dv. 08 Des. 2023, De (2023/2023), Director musical Long Yu, Xinghai Concert Hall, Guangzhou, China

Both Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky were veritable giants in Russian music. Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor was dedicated to the great violinist David Oistrakh, who worked closely with the composer during its gestation period. The violinist, who performed the premiere, was in awe of the work’s deep artistry. Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.4 in F minor is an exemplar of that composer’s unique melodic talents, amazing grasp of symphonic structure and colorful orchestration, expressing his romantic sentiments while contemplating life’s many adversities.