Synopsis

Prokofiev's *Classical* Symphony and Schnittke's Viola Concerto Tonight’s program showcases two works by prominent 20th-century Russian composers, presented by conductor Valery Gergiev and viola soloist Yuri Bashmet, both hailing from the USSR. Prokofiev's celebrated Symphony No. 1 in D major (*Classical*), composed in 1917, precedes Alfred Schnittke’s Viola Concerto. Premiered in 1986 by Bashmet and Gergiev, the concerto is a deeply personal and intensely expressive piece, forging a direct