Beginning with the clean tranquillity of Morning, Grieg’s first suite from his music to the play Peer Gynt ends in its hero’s escape from the terrifying Mountain King.

Shostakovich’s darkly glittering concerto is a searching insight into the soul of the cello and into the soul of its composer. It’s played by the blazing Russian cellist Anastasia Kobekina, making her New Zealand debut.

Like all Haydn’s late symphonies, his 97th is joyful, energetic, and never less than life-affirming.