Santa Monica Symphony presents: Voices of Strength

One cello takes on the orchestra. One symphony summons a nation. Shostakovich and Dvořák launch a season of unforgettable voices.

The season opens with two contrasting expressions of resistance. In Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, resistance is personal and immediate, expressed through a solo voice that confronts and pushes against the orchestra with urgency and intensity. In Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7, resistance takes on a different character, emerging through a broader symphonic voice shaped by struggle, national identity, and emotional resilience. Together, these works reveal how the same idea can take radically different musical forms, from the individual voice to the collective symphonic expression.

Program:

Jean Sibelius, Andante festivo (1922; arr. for orchestra 1938)

Dmitri Shostakovich, Cello Concerto No. 1, Op. 107 (1959)

Marek Szpakiewicz, cello

—Intermission—

Antonín Dvořák, Symphony No. 7 in D Minor, Op. 70 (1884)

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About the Soloist: Marek Szpakiewicz, cello

Polish-born cellist Marek Szpakiewicz has been described by Yo-Yo Ma as an artist whose “energy, motivation, earnestness, and generosity of spirit are evident through his work.” Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Corigliano praised his artistry, stating, “[Szpakiewicz’s] performance of my ‘Fancy on a Bach Air’ is absolutely gorgeous.”

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This concert is free as part of the Santa Monica Symphony’s commitment to presenting accessible performances for the community, and we warmly welcome donations to support future programs.

Please note this ticket does not guarantee late entry, as seating is open and first-come, first-served. We strongly recommend arriving early. Doors open at 6:00 PM.