Pocket-format symphony

Croatian Dora Pejacevic (1885–1923) composed her first piano trio in 1902, and when she wrote the second one in C major eight years later, she had grown from a promising young artist into a mature composer. This late-Romantic, lyrical music offers a broad spectrum of atmospheres and emotions.

Is it possible to pack a symphony by Shostakovich into a conveniently pocket-sized format? Viktor Derevianko has done just that with the fifteenth symphony from 1971 – Shostakovich’s distinctive last symphony, which references, among other things, Rossini’s William Tell and the “fate” theme from Wagner’s the Ring of the Nibelung (the composer was working during a hospital stay; he did not have many years left).

The power and melodic density of an orchestra cannot be translated for a small ensemble, but the emotional essence can be extracted and using just a few instruments, the music can be articulated in a way that places certain sections in a new light. Violinist Seohee Min, second concertmaster of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, leads an ensemble that also includes cello, piano and three percussionists.