Leningrad at a time of Ukrainian spirit

Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 60 is more popularly known as the Leningrad Symphony.

It premiered in the city of Kuybyshev (now Samara) on March 5, 1942 and was broadcast by loudspeaker to the people of Leningrad (Saint Petersburg) and to German forces. The symphony was a musical symbol of resistance in face of the siege and became a testament to the millions of Russians who died during World War II and to Russian fighting spirit. It was a work that was lauded by the Allies.

Today, things are rather different. It is to be performed, one might also say, as a tribute to Ukrainian spirit. However one wishes to contextualise it, the symphony remains a great work, and the programme for its performance by the Balearic Symphony Orchestra will be completed by Béla Bartok’s Violin Concerto No. 2, which was composed at a time when the Hungarian was greatly concerned about the rise of fascism. Moldovan violinist Alexandra Conunova will be the soloist.