Andris Nelsons will conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra in two riveting programs this spring. On April 25, 26, 27 & 30, he leads the ensemble in Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 15, composed in the summer of 1971 and premiered the following January. The Fifteenth is distinctive in its very surprising quotation from Rossini’s William Tell Overture, as well as other musical allusions to composers like Mikhail Glinka, Gustav Mahler, and Richard Wagner. Acclaimed Russian pianist, Danil Trifonov, brings his technical brilliance and virtuosity to Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, one of the most technically challenging piano concertos in the standard classical repertoire.

On May 2, 3 & 4, the Latvian violinist, Baiba Skride, joins Nelsons and the BSO for the world premiere of Grawemeyer Award-winning composer Sebastian Currier’s Aether for violin and orchestra, a work co-commissioned by the BSO and the Gewandhausorchester. Ms. Skride will also perform the European premiere of the work with Nelsons and the Gewandhausorchester on May 16 & 17 in Leipzig. Completing the program is Strauss’ tone poem Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks; and Stravinsky’s puppet-come-to-life Petrushka, the composer’s second full ballet score for the Ballets Russes, two years before The Rite of Spring, and following his critical success of The Firebird.