Catch an exhilarating blast of live symphonic Shostakovich when the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Alexander Anissimov, goes on tour
The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Alexander Anissimov, goes on tour to the Institute of Technology, Sligo (today); Leisureland, Galway (tomorrow); St Mary's Church, Mallow, Co Cork (Wed); University Concert Hall, Limerick (Thurs) and Waterford Institute of Technology (Fri).
• The remaining symphonies will be on offer at the National Concert Hall throughout 2006 are: the 10th Symphony (May 12); the 11th (May 26); the 12th (Sept 15); the 13th (Oct 6); the 14th (Nov 10) and the 15th (Dec 1).
• If you're thinking of investing in a recording of Shostakovich's staggering string quartets, go for a Russian performing group every time. Everyone's favourite - including the composer's - seems to be the Borodin quartet's four-disc classic 1970 set on the Chandos label, which features all except the final two quartets. If you simply must have them all, a gorgeous (though pricey) new complete recording by the St Petersburg Quartet is available from Hyperion.
• If you want to see what all the Testimony fuss is all about, Tony Palmer's award-winning black-and-white feature film presentation of the composer's run-in with Stalin - starring Ben Kingsley - has just been re-released on DVD.
