Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto
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- What you'll hear
- All about the music
- Take a listen
Bold. Sassy. A serious smile.
Who’s on stage
It wouldn’t be a season opening concert if we didn’t have our very own Royal Northern Sinfonia on stage, plus their Music Director Dinis Sousa. Joining them is special guest Alena Baeva, a renowned violinist who has worked alongside the world’s best – and Gateshead’s finest too, starring in BBC Proms at The Glasshouse last summer.
What they’re playing
Tchaikovsky’s ever-popular Violin Concerto, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9, plus music from Norway, in the shape of Kristine Tiøgersen’s Bioluminescence – for orchestra and… LED lights!
Need to know
Price: £22.50 – £50.50
Discounts: save if you’re under 17, aged 18 – 30, a classical first timer, or a group of 10 or more people. Check the details.
Running time: 2 hours, including a 20 minute interval.
Age: under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
What you'll hear
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
Kristine Tjogersen Bioluminescence
Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No. 9
Who's playing it
Dinis Sousa conductor
Alena Baeva violin
Royal Northern Sinfonia
What's happening in the music?
You’d have to have a heart of stone not to enjoy Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. It’s chock-full of gorgeous song-like melodies for the solo violin, and the orchestra gets some seriously punchy tunes too. This is music that’s full of energy, not afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve. Tchaikovsky’s countryman Shostakovich isn’t renowned for writing ‘fun’ music, but his Symphony No. 9 is as close as he gets – the music veering from sassy slapstick to dancelike. Shostakovich is letting his hair down – or is it just a show, a smile for the authorities, masking something darker underneath?
Take a listen
Here’s Alena playing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with Düsseldorfer Symphoniker Orchestra and conductor Alexandre Bloch. Nice eh? It sounds even better live…
Tickets
Saturday 13 September 2025
£22.50-£50.50