Puppet
The death of Stalin should have meant rebirth for Shostakovich. Instead, he simply found himself caught up in a new power struggle.
Dmitry Shostakovich, like his home country of Russia, was a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. From the very beginning of his career, he pushed the boundaries, but under Stalinβs stifling regime, experimental artists were enemies of the state, and Shostakovich was at the top of the wanted list. The composer was forced to censor his work and betray his own morals to survive - or was he?
Some say Shostakovich was Stalinβs faithful lackey; others read dissident messages in his music. This week, Donald Macleod traces five turning points in the composer's career, from his explosive debut to his dramatic exile, as he attempts to decode the mystery that surrounds Shostakovich.
The death of Stalin should have meant rebirth for Shostakovich, but in todayβs programme, we find the composer caught up in a new power struggle.
Symphony No. 10 in E Minor, Op. 93: II. Allegro
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Vasily Petrenko
Piano Trio No. 2, Op. 67: III & IV
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Emanuel Ax, piano
Isaac Stern, violin
Symphony No. 10 in E Minor, Op. 93: IV. Andante - Allegro
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Vasily Petrenko
The Gadfly Suite, Op. 97a: VI. Galop, VII. Introduction, X. Nocturne
London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maxim Shostakovich
Produced by Alice McKee in Cardiff.
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Music Played
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Dmitry Shostakovich
Symphony No 10 in E Minor, Op 93 (2nd mvt)
Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.- Naxos : 8.572461.
- Naxos.
- 2.
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Dmitry Shostakovich
Piano Trio No 2 In E Minor, Op 67 (3rd and 4th mvts)
Performer: Isaac Stern. Performer: Emanuel Ax. Performer: YoβYo Ma.- SONY G010003145191Y.
- SONY.
- 2.
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Dmitry Shostakovich
Symphony No 10 in E Minor, Op 93 (4th mvt)
Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.- Naxos : 8.572461.
- Naxos.
- 4.
-
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Dmitry Shostakovich
The Gadfly Suite, Op 97a (6th and 7th mvts)
Performer: Maxim Dmitrievich Shostakovich. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.- Ameritz Music 888608745017.
- Ameritz Music.
- 6.
Broadcast
- Thu 19 Jan 2023 12:00ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
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