Andris Nelsons and the Concertgebouworkest perform Shostakovich’s Fourth Symphony. All of the characteristics of his symphonic style are present: Mahler’s influence, experimentations, flirtations with dance music and grotesque effects.
If you are unfamiliar with Shostakovich’s music, then his Symphony No. 4 is the perfect introduction to it. All of the characteristics of his symphonic style are present in the Fourth Symphony: his passion for experimentation, his respect for Mahler’s symphonies, his flirtations with dance music and his decided preference for bizarre and grotesque effects. These characteristics are exaggerated even further by an orchestra of nearly 130 musicians: almost double the number of a standard symphony orchestra.
Andris Nelsons debuted with the Concertgebouworkest in 2008 and now conducts the orchestra regularly. Nelsons studied with Alexander Titov in St. Petersburg and took private lessons with Mariss Jansons. Having conducted the North West German Philharmonic, the Latvian National Opera (in his hometown of Riga) and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons currently is music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and recently took up the position of ‘Kapellmeister’ of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.
If you are unfamiliar with Shostakovich’s music, then his Symphony No. 4 is the perfect introduction to it. All of the characteristics of his symphonic style are present in the Fourth Symphony: his passion for experimentation, his respect for Mahler’s symphonies, his flirtations with dance music and his decided preference for bizarre and grotesque effects. These characteristics are exaggerated even further by an orchestra of nearly 130 musicians: almost double the number of a standard symphony orchestra.
Andris Nelsons debuted with the Concertgebouworkest in 2008 and now conducts the orchestra regularly. Nelsons studied with Alexander Titov in St. Petersburg and took private lessons with Mariss Jansons. Having conducted the North West German Philharmonic, the Latvian National Opera (in his hometown of Riga) and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons currently is music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and recently took up the position of ‘Kapellmeister’ of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.
