Alongside Spivakov, who conducts and performs, the Moscow Virtuosi—an elite ensemble made up of prize-winning artists, soloists and principal violinists from the most prestigious Russian orchestras—open the concert with Vivaldi's evocative Concerto in E Minor before moving on to a poignant musical prayer by Tomaso Albinoni, performed here in memory of the victims of the 2015 Paris attacks. They continue with two works for strings: a lesser-known serenade by Rossini, sparkling and elegant, as well as Boccherini's Symphony in D Minor ("La casa del diavolo"), a work of great operatic power.

The program is rounded out by a series of pieces by Shostakovich, highlighting the darkness of a composer oppressed by state censorship as well as his sparkling wit and sarcasm. Two rhythmic encores provide the evening's exclamation point, leading us to Hungary and across the ocean to Argentina!