Love of country has long been a powerful cultural force, shaping everything from personal identity to politics and art. This concert delves into the varied portrayals of Eastern Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries, as expressed through the music of three of the region's most renowned composers: Shostakovich, Dvořák, and Khachaturian. Soviet era composers, such as Aram Khachaturian and Dmitri Shostakovich, found themselves grappling with questions of cultural identity and its place in a collectivist society, while also reflecting the profound sense of isolation that marked this repressive time. Looking further back to the 19th century, Antonín Dvořák used his compositions to celebrate his Czech heritage, drawing inspiration from the rich folk traditions and national music of his homeland.