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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 Stalin鈥檚 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 Stalin鈥檚 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 today鈥檚 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.

59 minutes

Music Played

  • 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.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Piano Trio No 2 In E Minor, Op 67 (3rd and 4th mvts)

    Performer: Isaac Stern. Performer: Emanuel Ax. Performer: Yo鈥怸o Ma.
    • SONY G010003145191Y.
    • SONY.
    • 2.
  • 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.
  • 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 12:00

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