Czech Philharmonic/Semyon Bychkov: Shostakovich 5

The ovation that greeted the 1937 premiere of Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony lasted over an hour – perhaps fuelled by its agonisingly intense slow movement and the triumphal ending – though its deeper meaning is fraught with ambiguity. It's paired with a concerto whose daunting demands tested its dedicatee, the formidable Mstislav Rostropovich, to the limit at its 1959 premiere.

Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No 1 holds a special place in Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s heart - with it he secured the title of BBC Young Musician of the Year 2016. His 2023 performance 'had the feel of chamber music as if the strings were consoling a colleague who was sharing the depths of his, and the music's, soul' (Bachtrack). And 'the players of the marvelous Czech Philharmonic bring the piece to life as few, if any, orchestras have before or since' (Classics Today).