This spring, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra presented Shostakovich Ten, a bold and immersive concert that invited Brisbane audiences to engage with the complex intersections of music, history, and politics. Held at QPAC’s Concert Hall, the performance was more than a showcase of technical brilliance - it was a deeply reflective experience that challenged us to consider the role of art in times of repression.

The evening opened with Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, performed by the virtuoso Alexander Gavrylyuk. His interpretation was electric, full of wit and precision, and perfectly matched the orchestra’s dynamic energy under the baton of Umberto Clerici. The concerto’s playful rhythms and ironic flourishes hinted at the absurdity of life under Soviet rule - a fitting prelude to the darker terrain of Shostakovich.

After a 20-minute interval, the second half delivered the emotional and intellectual core of the evening: Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10, paired with William Kentridge’s haunting film Oh To Believe In Another World. The orchestra, dimly lit and partially obscured by Kentridge’s diorama-like visuals, became part of a living collage. The film’s fragmented imagery - puppetry, animation, archival footage - mirrored the fractured psyche of a nation under Stalinist rule.

This was the moment the audience had been waiting for. The symphony’s second movement, often interpreted as a portrait of Stalin himself, was performed with terrifying intensity. The musicians - including students from Griffith University’s Conservatorium - were simply brilliant. Their presence added a layer of youthful urgency and hope. On stage, they wielded their instruments not as tools of destruction, but as weapons of artistic defiance.

Kentridge’s film was cleverly timed to the music’s shifting pace, creating a dialogue between sound and image that deepened the emotional impact. The result was a multimedia experience that felt both surreal and grounded - a powerful reminder of how art can illuminate history’s darkest corners.

What stood out most was the concert’s relevance to today. In an era where freedom of expression is still under threat in many parts of the world, Shostakovich Ten served as a poignant reminder that artists have always found ways to speak truth to power. For students and young audiences, this performance was a valuable opportunity to engage with complex ideas - not just about Soviet Russia, but about the enduring struggle between creativity and control.

In the end, Shostakovich Ten was more than a concert. It was a statement. A beautifully executed, emotionally charged, and intellectually rich experience that left the audience reflecting long after the final note. Brisbane was lucky to have it.

Words by Joanna Letic

Imagery provided by Queensland Symphony Orchestra