Shostakovich Symphony No. 11 - The Daily Express

Written by Shostakovich in 1957 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, Symphony No 11 is inspired by a massacre in1905, when Tsarist troops opened fire on a crowd of peasants and workers, killing 200 and injuring 500 (although many have argued that Shostakovich's true inspiration was the more recent and controversial 1956 Hungarian uprising). Whatever the case, it's a thrilling and powerful piece of music, with all the tension and drama that you'd expect from this great Russian. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra works wonders with a monumental piece.