Barber & Shostakovich

Shostakovich’s political and personal turmoil unfolds through boldness and intensity, and Stella Chen tugs on heartstrings with Barber.

Written during a time of political and personal turmoil, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 4 unfolds with boldness and intensity. Never performed by the CSO, the massive symphony reflects Shostakovich’s defiance and anguish, marked by shifts from lush orchestration to aggressive dissonance. In contrast, Stella Chen, Gramophone 2023 Young Artist of the Year, joins the CSO for one of the most beautiful violin concertos of all time, wherein Barber’s signature lyricism tugs on heartstrings through his haunting, melancholic melodies.   

Program

Samuel Barber Violin Concerto 
Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No. 4 

Artists

Giancarlo Guerrero conductor 
Stella Chen violin