The Soviet authorities called Shostakovich鈥檚 Tenth Symphony an 鈥渙ptimistic tragedy鈥�, and if that sounds confusing, it鈥檚 probably because they were as astonished 鈥� and conflicted 鈥� as the rest of us by this most troubled of modern masterpieces. A massive, defiant act of self-assertion in the face of official tyranny, it鈥檚 a monumental climax to a concert that begins with the primary-coloured sonorities and timeless Russian rituals of Stravinsky鈥檚 'Symphonies of wind instruments' and which also features Colin Currie, one of Scotland鈥檚 (and the world鈥檚) finest percussionists in the Scottish Premiere of 'Martland Memorial', an arresting new concerto by Mark-Anthony Turnage: a heartfelt, typically uncompromising memorial to a musical friend whom Turnage describes as 鈥渜uirky and volatile, with strong beliefs鈥�.
