Houstoun & Eroica

Love is pervasive in music, as it is in life.

Follow Tchaikovsky’s passions of love and tragedy through melodic beauty and sumptuous instrumentation. The MSO will take you on an emotional journey through Shakespeare’s classic story in one of the composer’s most loved works.

Experience the extraordinary talent of Michael Houstoun as he navigates the intricate and virtuosic melodies of Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No 2. This light-spirited piece with a hauntingly beautiful slow movement was written as a birthday present to his son Maxim in 1957. The ending makes the pianist climb to the edge of the keyboard and will keep you at the edge of your seats!

Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ Symphony is a masterpiece that marks a turning point in the history of classical music, ushering in the Romantic era with its groundbreaking innovation and emotional depth. One of the most iconic anecdotes associated with the ‘Eroica’ involves its dedication. When Beethoven composed the symphony, he originally dedicated it to Napoleon Bonaparte, whom he admired as a champion of liberty and equality. However, as history unfolded, Beethoven’s opinion of Napoleon soured when the French leader declared himself Emperor of all of Europe. In a fit of rage Beethoven reportedly tore the title page from the score and renamed it simply ‘Sinfonia Eroica’ (Heroine Symphony) and exclaimed, “…so he is no more than a common mortal! Now, too, he will tread underfoot all the rights of man, indulge only his ambition; now he will think himself superior to all men, become a tyrant!”