Leningrad Symphony, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Festival Hall

When his own city of St Petersburg with its long artistic lineage was besieged by the Nazis in 1942, Dmitri Shostakovich responded in music with his Symphony No 7, which was literally a counterblast – it was relayed across the city by loudspeaker in defiance of the occupying troops.

To hear and see this tumultuous work live is one of the greatest experiences to be had in the concert hall, all the more powerful and moving for knowing that its players and audience at the time were on the brink of starvation and yet defying their enemies through art.

The Leningrad Symphony is played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under its principal guest conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada, and is part of a strong Russian strand running through the season devised by its principal conductor Vladimir Jurowski.

It is preceded by the great Piano Concerto No 5 of Beethoven, dubbed the Emperor, and dedicated at a very different time in history and politics to the composer's pupil and patron, the Archduke Rudolf. But the nickname, the Emperor, refers not to the archduke, or to Napolean, who then bestrode all Europe, but grew out of the excited response to its hearing by an officer in Napolean's forces, who called the work "an emperor of a concerto".

The soloist is the Israeli pianist Inon Barnatan.

Booking opens 8 Feb 2017. Click here for details of discounts when booking three or more concerts in the London Philharmonic Orchestra's 2017/18 season.