Due to illness, conductor Michail Jurowski had to withdraw from this concert. He will be replaced by Yoel Levi. We wish Maestro Jurowski a speedy recovery.

Officially, Shostakovich dedicates his 7th Symphony to his beloved city of Leningrad and depicts 'the historic days of its defence against fascist oppressors'. But in reality, it is his personal indictment of the Soviet regime's violence against its own citizens and a tribute to its victims.