January 16 & 18, 2025
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Center
Atlanta, Georgia – USA
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; Aziz Shokhakimov, conductor; Behzod Abduraimov, piano.
Polina NAZAYKINSKAYA: Winter Bells
Sergei RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Igor STRAVINSKY: Petrushka (1947 Version)
Mark Gresham | 21 JAN 2025
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra delivered an unforgettable performance on January 16, 2025, at Atlanta Symphony Hall. Under the assured baton of Uzbek guest conductor Aziz Shokhakimov and joined by the extraordinary Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov, the orchestra presented a thoughtfully curated and brilliantly executed program of all-Russian music featuring Polina Nazaykinskaya’s Winter Bells, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and Igor Stravinsky’s Petrushka (1947 version).
Polina Nazaykinskaya’s Winter Bells opened the program, immediately transporting the audience to a stark Russian winter. Inspired by her visit to an ancient village in the Volga region, the symphonic poem depicted a traveler battling a blizzard, haunted by fleeting visions of joy and wonder.
Nazaykinskaya’s expert orchestration vividly brought the imagery to life in this well-crafted work of considerable emotional range. Although one could hear hints of Shostakovich’s influence here and there, the composer’s personal creative voice shone through.
Shokhakimov drew an evocative performance from the orchestra, balancing the score’s icy desolation, dramatic thrusts, and nuanced details all the way to the single haunting glockenspiel note that closed the piece.
Nazaykinskaya was present in the audience (seated only a few seats over from me) and went onstage afterward for a well-deserved ovation. Winter Bells proved a most welcome addition to the ASO’s repertoire, and I look forward to exploring Nazaykinskaya’s music further.

Russian composer Polina Nazaykinskaya takes a bow after the ASO performed her ‘Winter Bells’ led by guest conductor Aziz Shokhakimov. (credit: Rand Lines)
Next, pianist Behzod Abduraimov joined the orchestra for Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. This famous virtuosic set of 24 variations based on Paganini’s Caprice No. 24 highlighted Abduraimov’s technical brilliance and refined musicality, balancing its playful energy, dramatic intensity, and lyrical beauty. The celebrated 18th variation shimmered with natural warmth and clarity, eschewing over-sentimentality. Shokhakimov and Abduraimov’s collaboration was seamless, allowing the score’s inherent drama and charm to unfold naturally.
The audience was further delighted by Abduraimov’s encore, “La campanella” (“The Little Bell”), the third of Franz Liszt’s six Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141 (1851), performed with engaging brilliance.

Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov (credit: Evgeny Eutykhov)
The evening concluded with Stravinsky’s Petrushka in its 1947 version, a vivid retelling of the tragic tale of three puppets brought to life during a Shrovetide fair. Stravinsky’s kaleidoscopic score, brimming with wit, dissonance, and rhythmic vitality, provided a thrilling showcase for the orchestra.
Shokhakimov’s interpretation emphasized the work’s narrative arc while maintaining its playful and theatrical elements. Most of all, this performance was viscerally vivid in a way that we rarely hear from an American orchestra.
The musicians rose to the occasion with precision and flair, from the spirited folk tunes to the intricate solo passages. The ensemble’s cohesion and Shokhakimov’s forward momentum ensured a gripping and satisfying conclusion to the concert.
Shokhakimov, though not yet a household name in the U.S., demonstrated exceptional insight into the music’s overarching structures, avoiding unnecessary histrionics and allowing the pieces to speak with clarity and integrity.
The concert overall was a peak experience, exemplifying the power of live music to captivate and transport. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, under Shokhakimov’s assured leadership and with Abduraimov’s extraordinary artistry, delivered what could credibly be called the highlight of its season to date. We definitely look forward to him returning to the ASO podium in the future. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: aso.org
- Aziz Shokhakimov: shokhakimov.com
- Behzod Abduraimov: behzodabduraimov.com
- Polina Nazaykinskaya: genevalewisviolinist.com

Read more by Mark Gresham.