Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7; Incidental Music to „King Lear”

Featuring

Andris Nelsons
William R. Hudgins
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Dmitri Shostakovich

Did you know?

1/7

Composer Biography

Dmitri Shostakovich, the composer, experienced both triumph and terror in the late 1930s, having rescued his career after an official attack on his opera and living in constant fear under Stalin's regime.

Compositional Technique

The incidental music for 'King Lear' by Shostakovich features five short fanfares for two horns, two trumpets, and snare drum, creating a menacing atmosphere.

Historical Context

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7, known as the 'Leningrad' Symphony, was largely composed during the catastrophic 900-day siege of Leningrad by Nazi forces in World War II.

Composition History

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 6, completed in 1939, was considered controversial due to its unusual structure: a long slow movement followed by two brief fast ones.

Historical Context

During 1937-38, a campaign to purge 'enemies of the people' in the Soviet Union led to mass arrests and executions, impacting some of Shostakovich's closest associates.

Cultural Impact

The 'Leningrad' Symphony became a potent symbol of resistance to Fascism after its American premiere in 1942, broadcast to millions and followed by numerous performances worldwide.

Composition History

The 'Festive Overture' was completed by Shostakovich in a matter of hours in 1954, one year after Stalin's death, for a Bolshoi Theater commission celebrating the anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution.