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Donald Runnicles stands with baton in his left hand as he conducts the Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Donald Runnicles conducts Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony

12 – 14 September 2025

In the Concert Hall

Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Classical Music

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 response was this symphony.

Dramatic and heroic

Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony is 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.

Presented by Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Programme

Anna CLYNE This Midnight Hour
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No.4*
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No.5
*Does not feature in the Friday 12 September performance

Artist information

DONALD RUNNICLES conductor
MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN piano

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