Shostakovich and Saint-Saëns

Of the talented pianist, the Sunday Times wrote, “[His] demeanor and technique… radiate calm, yet the precision and speed of his fingerwork can be quite shattering. Seldom, if ever, have I encountered such a combination of evident modesty and utter brilliance.” The Spaniard virtuoso plays Saint-Saëns’ sparkling “Egyptian” Concerto with its runs of flashing pearls. Gustavo Gimeno concludes with Shostakovich’s most popular and power-packed symphony with flashes of both Beethoven and Mahler that was greeted with a 30-minute ovation at its premiere. Gustavo Gimeno—who was called a “wonderfully cogent, adventurous interpreter” by the San Francisco Chronicle—leads the LA Phil in Shostakovich’s triumphant Fifth Symphony.