Sunday 31 August 2025 at 7:30pm - 11:30pm

Kuusisto & Barruk

BBC Proms presents: Pekka Kuusisto and Katarina Barruk

Pekka Kuusisto brings the strings of his Norwegian Chamber Orchestra to the Proms for a programme that reflects on human injustice. Shostakovich wrote his String Quartet No. 8 in Dresden, contemplating the Allied bombing of the city during the Second World War. For some, the work also speaks of the oppression of the Russian people under Stalin’s rule.

In a different time and place, singer and composer Katarina Barruk – one of only a handful of remaining speakers of the Ume Sa´mi language – is a living beacon for her native tongue and culture, performing songs that combine the traditional and the modern. 

Programme

Songs by Katarina Barruk (based on the joik indigenous song-type from Sa´bmie) – interspersed with music by J. S. Bach, Philip Glass, Hannah Kendall (UK premiere), Caroline Shaw and Tippett c50’

Interval

Arvo Pärt Fratres 9’

Shostakovich, arr. Barshai Chamber Symphony in C minor (String Quartet No. 8) 24’

Katarina Barruk vocals

Arnljot Nordvik guitar

Christer Jørgensen drums

 Norwegian Chamber Orchestra

Pekka Kuusisto violin/director 

There will be one interval