Donald Runnicles stands with baton in his left hand as he conducts the Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Donald Runnicles conducts Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony

  • Classical Music
  • Sydney Symphony Orchestra
  • Concert Hall
  • Seating map

Dramatic and heroic

You can feel the tension in Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony. Written after he had been denounced by Stalin for writing ‘muddle instead of music’, Shostakovich’s response was this symphony.

Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony is a mighty, sweeping masterpiece that unleashes the full power of the orchestra; a bold statement that found universal approval. 

Principal Guest Conductor Sir Donald Runnicles is world-renowned for connecting audiences to the emotion of music, which means you’ll feel every dramatic twist and turn, with goosebumps guaranteed in the blazing finale.

In his Sydney Symphony debut, Canadian virtuoso Marc-André Hamelin provides an elegant contrast with Beethoven’s heroic and noble Piano Concerto No.4. And Anna Clyne’s This Midnight Hour magnificently conjures the night. Join us for this powerful reminder that in the darkest of times, artists hold the light.

Presented by Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Event details

Programme

Anna CLYNE This Midnight Hour
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No.4*
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No.5
*Does not feature in the Friday 12 September performance

Artist information

DONALD RUNNICLES conductor
MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN piano

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Attending this event

Plan your visit

Address

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Getting to the venue

The Opera House is a 7-10 minute walk from Circular Quay, and is easily accessible by car, train, ferry, lightrail, bus, bike and on foot.

Location and access

Concert Hall

The Concert Hall is located beneath the largest of Sydney Opera House’s roof sails, filling the upper levels of the west side of the building. Best accessed through the covered concourse. All Sydney Opera House foyers are accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators).

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