Type: Classical Music
Composer: Dmitri Shostakovich
Program: Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 60
Conductor: Semyon Bychkov
Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Location: Rudolfinum, Prague
Year: 2021

Composed as a portrayal of war alongside the strength of the human spirit, it's also known as The Leningrad Symphony. A monumental piece, first performed during the 2-year WWII siege and broadcast as a symbol of resistance, this performance stands out for its blend of clarity and quiet intensity. Bychkov allows the music to unfold with patient control, and the famous “invasion” march grows with eerie inevitability. It is surely Shostakovich’s most immediately engaging work.