Taking as its starting-point Shostakovich's much-quoted manifesto of his Fifth Symphony as ‘a Soviet artist's creative response to justified criticism' this Singers at Six concert explores choral music from the period both by composers who stayed in Soviet Russia and learnt to survive under the system, as well as those who chose to leave and take their chance abroad. Music by Sviridov, Grechaninov, Chesnokov, Kastalsky and others - a chance to hear some gems from a little-known corner of the choral repertoire.
This early-evening concert precedes the Sibelius, Shostakovich and Esa-Pekka Salonen 91ȱ Symphony Orchestra concert in the Barbican Hall on the same evening.