Beethoven’s last concerto meets Shostakovich’s final symphony, and in the hands of Gianandrea Noseda and Beatrice Rana, they both have something remarkable to say. Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto begins with a huge chord, and a mighty flourish from the piano. Shostakovich’s Fifteenth Symphony… well, it’s a bit more complicated than that. But one thing’s for certain: this is a final symphony like no other, bristling with mystery, irony and (beneath it all) a sincerity and an emotional commitment that’s impossible to ignore. Gianandrea Noseda understands all that. A devoted champion of Russian music, he’s ideally placed to uncover the mysteries (and share the humour) of this enigmatic modern masterpiece – and to uncover its kinship with Beethoven’s majestic concerto. This is the concerto that’s often called the ‘Emperor’, and when it’s played by Beatrice Rana – described by the New York Times as ‘one of the most insightful and prodigiously gifted artists of the new generation’ – it’ll do more than merely stir the blood."