BACK in the USSR is the theme of a Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra concert in January.

Chief conductor Kirill Karabits will lead the orchestra in a thrilling concert at Lighthouse, Poole, on January 25 featuring the works of Russian giants Shostakovich and Prokofiev.

Both composers are no strangers to the BSO, with the orchestra having recorded the critically acclaimed entire cycle of Prokofiev’s symphonies and collaborated with internationally renowned artists Nicola Benedetti and James Ehnes for recordings of Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No.1, both of which received glowing reviews in the national press.

For this concert, the BSO will be performing Shostakovich’s Symphony No.8 and Kirill Karabits will be joined by fellow Ukrainian, violinist Valeriy Sokolov, for a performance of Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No.2.

Prokofiev composed just two concertos for the violin; the Second Concerto was written in Paris in 1935 as he was on the verge of returning to the Soviet Union and is perhaps the mostloved of Prokofiev’s works for

violin.

Its creation coincided with the composition of his ballet score Romeo & Juliet with which the concerto shares many characteristics, namely its

passionate lyricism.

The piece begins with unaccompanied solo violin, heralding the new simplicity that characterises the second violin concerto compared to its more luxuriant predecessor.

As one of the most outstanding artists of his generation, Ukrainian violinist Valeriy Sokolov is a regular performer with many of the world’s leading orchestras.

n Back in the USSR with Valeriy Sokolov will be at Lighthouse, Poole, on Wednesday January 25 at 7.30pm.

There will be a Meet the Music pre-concert talk with Terry Barfoot at 6.30pm. Admission is free with a concert ticket. Call the box office for tickets.