RYAN BANCROFT / CLARA-JUMI KANG

Like many tales drawn from this country’s dazzling folklore, two works bring extraordinary creatures to life: the chalk stick from *Fairytale Poem*, worn down in the classroom, draws on its last reserves of strength to become a child’s drawing, whilst the puppets from the famous ballet *Petrushka* find themselves caught up in a tragic love triangle, set against the backdrop of a carnival. The strings were very real for Shostakovich, who was subject to Zhdanov’s relentless political control, the marks of which are evident in his Violin Concerto No. 1. It is a powerful work, the passion and depth of which violinist Clara-Jumi Kang and conductor Ryan Bancroft are keen to champion together.