A powerful intersection of music and visual art, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) present Shostakovich Ten, a fusion of live orchestral performance with cinematic storytelling to confront the shadows of the 20th century, in the Concert Hall – QPAC on 19 and 20 September 2025.
At the heart of the program is Shostakovich’s Symphony No.10 – a monumental work often interpreted as the composer’s unflinching response to the death of Joseph Stalin. Under the baton of Chief Conductor Umberto Clerici, QSO will bring this symphony’s fury, tension, and fragile hope to life with full orchestral force.
The performance is paired with William Kentridge’s acclaimed film Oh To Believe in Another World, which unfolds in perfect sync with the music. Known for his poetic and politically charged visual language, Kentridge layers collage, puppetry, animation, and archival imagery to reimagine the Soviet era.
The result is an artistic dialogue between sound and vision that magnifies the symphony’s intensity while illuminating the resilience of the human spirit.
Adding to this striking program is Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.3 – a work of dazzling virtuosity and audacious wit. Internationally renowned pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk joins QSO as soloist, navigating the concerto’s whirlwind of irony, lyricism, and brilliance – music that captures both the absurdity and creativity of life under Soviet rule.
Shostakovich Ten
Concert Hall – QPAC, Cultural Precinct, South Bank (Brisbane)
Performances: Friday 19 & Saturday 20 September 2025
Information and Bookings: www.qso.com.au
Image: William Kentridge’s Oh To Believe In Another World – courtesy of QSO