You can feel the tension in Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony. Written after he had been denounced by Stalin for writing ‘muddle instead of music’, Shostakovich’s career hung in the balance.

His response was this symphony. A mighty, sweeping masterpiece that unleashes the full power of the orchestra; a bold statement that found universal approval.

Principal Guest Conductor Sir Donald Runnicles is world-renowned for connecting audiences to the emotion of music, which means you’ll feel every dramatic twist and turn, with goosebumps guaranteed in the blazing finale.

In his Sydney Symphony debut, Canadian virtuoso Marc-André Hamelin provides an elegant contrast with Beethoven’s heroic and noble Piano Concerto No.4. And Anna Clyne’s This Midnight Hour magnificently conjures the night. Join us for this powerful reminder that in the darkest of times, artists hold the light.