Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra will hold two concerts at the Shenzhen Concert Hall with two nights of classical Russian music. Chinese pianist Chen Sa will be featured for both concerts.

    The first one will be held Oct. 29 with Yuri Simonov as the conductor and the program will be Shostakovich’s “Festive Overture,” Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2” and “Symphony No. 2.”

    The second concert is scheduled for Oct. 31 with Yuri Botnari as the conductor and the program will be Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5” and “Swan Lake Waltz” and Shostakovich’s “Piano Concerto No. 2.”

    Shostakovich’s “Festive Overture” was written and premiered in 1954 in Moscow to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the October Revolution. His “Piano Concerto No. 2” was composed in 1957 for his son Maxim’s 19th birthday. Maxim premiered the piece during his graduation at the Moscow Conservatory. It is an uncharacteristically cheerful piece, much more so than most of Shostakovich’s works.

    Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2” was composed in 1900-1901 and it is one of his most enduringly popular pieces and established his fame as a concerto composer. His “Symphony No. 2” was written in 1906-07. Alongside his “Piano Concerto No. 2” and “Piano Concerto No. 3,” this symphony remains one of the composer’s best-known compositions.

    Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5” was composed in 1888. Possibly for its very clear exposition of the idea of “ultimate victory through strife,” the symphony was very popular during World War II, with many new recordings of the work, and many performances during those years.

    The Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1951 as the Moscow Youth Orchestra for young and inexperienced musicians, acquiring its current name in 1953. It is most associated with longtime conductor Kiril Kondrashin under whom it premiered Shostakovich’s fourth and 13th symphonies.

    The orchestra has flourished under Simonov, the orchestra’s principal conductor since 1998. Simonov first conducted at the Bolshoi Theater in 1969. Outside of Russia, Simonov was music director of the Belgian National Orchestra from 1994 to 2002.

    Botnari is the principal conductor and artistic director of the Barcelona Philharmonic Orchestra, laureate conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra and the president of the Royal Music Society Foundation.

    Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 29, 31

    Tickets: 180-1,080 yuan

    Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, intersection of Hongli Road and Yitian Road, Futian District (福田区红荔路和益田路交汇处深圳音乐厅)

    Metro: Longhua or Longgang Line, Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D(SD News)