Shostakovich’s 8th

 Tonight, Amare reverberates to the colossal, ferocious tones of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 8, a piece written to the blood, fire and steel of the German assault on the Soviet Union in 1943, yet which somehow manages to portray the small and personal as well. Profound depth in dark times, raw and real – and, as such, a very special example of how music can bring history to life and remind us of the humanity concealed within.

Cellist Gary Hoffman, who became the first American to win the prestigious Rostropovich Competition in 1986, is a living legend who has been soloing on all major stages for more than fifty years. He is known for his expressive, virtuosic and poetic playing, which reveals the soul of the music. The wistful yet lush Schelomo is a perfect match for Hoffman's instrumental singing. A piece written by Ernest Bloch in 1916, the cello translates King Schelomo's voice and thoughts into solid, deep tones. The orchestra paints the world around him and the Jewish people speaking back. The evening opens with recent work by Dutch composer Joey Roukens. In Night Flight, the listener is taken on a nocturnal roller coaster ride over a bustling city.