I: ELTS, FAUST JA ŠOSTAKOVITŠ
Dmitri Shostakovich
Violin Concerto No. 2 in C-sharp minor, Op. 129
Dmitri Shostakovich
Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 43
ISABELLE FAUST violin, ERSO, conductor OLARI ELTS
This season, the ‘Maestro’ series is opened by Olari Elts, chief conductor of ERSO. 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the death of one of the most important composers and most influential symphonists of the twentieth century – Dmitri Shostakovich. To commemorate this occasion, Elts, ERSO, and violinist Isabelle Faust will perform the composer’s Violin Concerto No. 2 and Symphony No. 4. The latter was completed in the 1930s during a time when Shostakovich as a composer had fallen into disfavour in the Soviet Union. The tragic and dark finale of the symphony most likely reflects public disapproval that befell Shostakovich.
Isabelle Faust, who is performing with ERSO for the second time, dives into each piece by keeping in mind its place in music history, using historically accurate instruments, and striving for the closest possible authenticity according to modern knowledge. This means that she is able to perform the works of widely differing composers with great passion. Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto is one of the most multifaceted and unpredictable compositions by the symphonist, where a soloist can demonstrate their command of melodic tone as well as technical mastery.