Curtis Symphony Orchestra: Osmo Leads Shostakovich 4

Immerse yourself in the propulsive, electrifying sound of Dmitri Shostakovich ’s Symphony No. 4—an uncompromising masterpiece silenced by Soviet authorities for decades. Inspired by Gustav Mahler, this three-movement work builds its musical themes to a monumental scale with an exhilarating and ferocious energy. It reveals Shostakovich at his most daring and radical, shifting abruptly between explosive orchestral passages, sardonic marches, and eerie, subdued textures. Led by Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä , this unsettling work creates a dark—and at times surreal—sound world that ultimately dissolves into a haunting close. Opening this dynamic program, Felix Mendelssohn ’s Ruy Blas Overture—based on Victor Hugo’s harrowing play—unfolds as a compressed drama, surging from a somber opening into restless energy before driving toward a fiery, brass-driven close. The world premiere of Vänskä’s Circus of Life follows, offering a reflective finale that explores the overlap between spectacle and the complexities of everyday life. Please note programs and artists are subject to change.