Soli Brass from Leeuwarden in the Netherlands will be undertaking ambitious musical project this weekend, when they will be undertaking a performance of Bramwell Tovey’s ‘Pictures in the Smoke’ and the rarely heard ‘Symphony for Brassband by Dmitri Shostakovich.

Critical acclaim

The first concert in Friezland was critically acclaimed and will be followed by two concerts in Groningen this weekend, when the band will be conducted by Frans-Aert Burghgraef and the piano soloist will be Frans Douwe.

Bram Tovey’s concerto has been a highly popular as well as critical success since its first performance in 2008 by the Fodens Band, with the composer himself as soloist.

The first concert in Friezland was critically acclaimed and will be followed by two concerts in Groningen this weekend4BR

Memory

The Shostakovich which is subtitled, 'in memory of the victims of fascism and war', was written in 1960 in Dresden, and is regarded as one of his most deeply personal works, although originally a string quartet published under the title Quartet no.8 opus 110.

It was later expanded by Rudolf Barshai for chamber orchestra (opus 110a), and it is this version that has been arranged for brass band by Dirk Annema.