SPOKESMAN FOR SOVIET SOCIETY?

COLIN ALBIN discusses
Shostakovich and the state

Dmitry Shostakovich was undoubtedly one of the finest Russian composers of the twentieth century. On 25 September 2010 we celebrate what would have been his 104th birthday. He was only thirteen when he entered the St Petersburg Conservatory and at the age of nineteen he experienced a highly successful premier of his extremely impressive first symphony. His work includes fifteen symphonies and fifteen string quartets, as well as concertos, song cycles, ballets, film scores, music for solo piano and two operas.

Fifty years ago, in September 1960, he was formally inducted as a member of the Communist Party and became a full member a year later...

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH

RUSSIA

STALIN