Russian Yuri Bashmet is the soloist in Walton's Viola
Concerto .
Also featured is Shostakovich's
Symphony No 7, the Leningrad, which was written at great speed in 1941 as an inspiration to the Soviet people in their fight against the Nazis. In the interval, singer Galina Vishnevskaya is among those recalling the siege of Leningrad and talking of the impact, then and now, of Shostakovich's music. With the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, conducted by David Atherton. Introduced by Michael Berkeley.