Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Get the final stamp in your passport when chief conductor of the Royal Liverpool and Oslo Philharmonic, Vasily Petrenko debuts in a program to honor the city of St. Petersburg. Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 8 was written at a turning point in the war, and although a great sense of achievement and pride spread across the nation, Shostakovich was not so optimistic, fearing that this would give further rise to Stalin. As a result, the symphony ended with a less-than-hopeful tone, leaving it unpopular and useless for propaganda purposes in his home country. This same weekend, enjoy another debut with rising star Behzod Abduraimov in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s much-loved Piano Concerto No. 1. The concerto had its Russian premiere in St. Petersburg in November 1875 and has one of the most iconic openings of any classical work.