Shostakovich & Sibelius

April 2 & 3 | 7:30PM Ohio Theatre Rossen Milanov, conductor Joshua Roman, cello Missy Mazzoli: Orpheus Undone Shostakovich: Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 107 Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 Superstar cellist Joshua Roman, who has the “virtuoso flair of Hendrix himself” (Gramophone), tackles one of the most difficult works ever composed for his instrument, Shostakovich’s tragic yet exciting First Cello Concerto — originally written for and premiered by the legendary Mstislav Rostropovich. The concert opens with Orpheus Undone, a suite drawn from contemporary American composer Missy Mazzoli’s ballet that re-imagines the Greek myth of the musician Orpheus and his wife, Eurydice. We end the evening with Sibelius’s Second Symphony, which the composer called “a confession of the soul” and that, echoing Beethoven’s Fifth, concludes in sounds of glorious triumph. Enjoy a free pre-talk concert at 6:30PM that dives into the music you’ll hear that evening! There is no assigned seating during the pre-concert talk. Preview this program with our Spotify playlist: