Astrig Siranossian / Orchestre de chambre de Paris / Nicolas Ellis

Britten and Shostakovich wrote two of their most brilliant works with the great virtuoso Rostropovich in mind. In a luminous counterpoint, Prokofiev's "Classical" Symphony imposes the finesse of its writing. Composed in 1963, the Cello Symphony marked Britten's return to symphonic writing after a period dominated by opera and vocal music. The work's title highlights the balance between orchestra and soloist, more so than in a traditional concerto. Four years earlier, Rostropovich premiered Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1, a piece blending sarcastic humour and melancholy. The programme concludes with Prokofiev's "Classical" Symphony. Written for an 18th-century sized ensemble, it remains one of his most clear and joyful creations: as a fervent admirer of Haydn, he wove a sonic lace worthy of the witty music of his distant predecessor.