Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 2025/26 season with a concert that puts Shostakovich’s magnificent Tenth Symphony at its centre. A perfect balance of expressive qualities and political meaning; the piece sums up all that Shostakovich wanted to say about living under Stalin’s oppressive regime. It’s a piece which can inspire us all through his resilience of spirit, determination, and courage to stand up for the truth, when even truth itself was under threat.

The BSO’s Chief Conductor Mark Wigglesworth is at the helm of this concert and is joined by one of the most distinctive artists of his generation, Sir Stephen Hough, for Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.1. The BSO’s newly appointed Celebrated Composer, Dani Howard’s, work The Butterfly Effect will also be performed.