Bruno Monsaingeon directs this profile of violinist David Oistrakh, who died in 1974. Oistrakh was a leading proponent of the Russian school, and his work is recalled here by friends and colleagues including Yehudi Menuhin and Mstislav Rostropovich.

A three-volume collection celebrating the 100th anniversary of Sir Georg Solti's birth. The set includes Solti conducting performances of Beethoven: Symphony No.1 in C major; Schubert: Symphony No.6 in C major and Symphony No.8 in B minor 'Unfinished'; Shostakovich: Symphony No.9 in E flat Major; and Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 in B minor, op.74 'Pathétique'. Also included is director Peter Maniura's documentary 'Solti - The Making of a Maestro', made during the last year of his life.

Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Berlin Philharmonic for this New Year gala concert, recorded live in Berlin on 31 December 2007. The programme includes: Borodin's 'Symphony No. 2 in B minor' and 'Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances'; Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition' and 'Khovanshchina: Prelude'; and Shostakovich's 'Dance from the Golden Age - Suite, Op. 22'.

Berlin's Waldbühne amphitheatre is the setting for this July 2011 performance in the Berliner Philharmoniker summer concerts season. Conducted by Riccardo Chailly, the orchestra plays a selection of works by Dmitri Shostakovich, Nina Rota, Ottorino Respighi and Paul Lincke.

Acclaimed pianist Martha Algerich joins forces with cellist Mischa Maisky to perform the world premiere of Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin's double concerto for piano, cello and orchestra, 'Romantic Offering'. Also featured are works by César Franck, Antonín Dvorak and Dmitri Shostakovich. Neeme Jarvi conducts the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra.

Russia's Borodin String Quartet performs Tchaikovsky's String Quartet No. 1 in D major and String Quartet No. 2 in F major, as well as Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 3 in F major and String Quartet No. 8 in C minor in this recording from 1987.

'A terrifying and unhappy book...' The Guardian This astounding self-portrait covering the whole of Shostakovich's life (1906-1975) was prepared in collaboration with the distinguished Soviet musicologist Solomon Volkov. With the composer's consent, the manuscript was smuggled out of Soviet Russia - but Shostakovich, fearing reprisals, stipulated that the book should not appear until after his death. Ever since its publication in 1979 it has been the subject of controversy, some suggesting that Volkov invented parts of it, but most affirming that it revealed a profoundly ambivalent Shostakovich which the world had never seen before - his life at once triumphant and tragic. Either way, it remains indispensible to an understanding of Shostakovich's life and work. Testimony is intense and fiercely ironic, both plain-spoken and outspoken.

The legendary pianist recorded live at the Verbier Festival in 2009 and 2010. Accompanied by David Geurrier on trumpet, featured works include Beethoven's 'Piano Concerto No.2 in B-flat Major, Op.19', Scarlatti's 'Sonata in D Minor', Shostakovich's 'Piano Concerto No.1 in C Minor, Op.35', and Bizet's 'Symphony in C Major'. Gábor Takács-Nagy conducts the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra.

Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Berlin Philharmonic for this New Year gala concert, recorded live in Berlin on 31 December 2007. The programme includes: Borodin's 'Symphony No. 2 in B minor' and 'Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances'; Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition' and 'Khovanshchina: Prelude'; and Shostakovich's 'Dance from the Golden Age - Suite, Op. 22'.