Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 / The Golden Age Suite

Featuring

Gerard Schwarz
Seattle Symphony
Dmitri Shostakovich

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Shostakovich's friend Ivan Sollertinsky introduced him to the music of Gustav Mahler, which had a profound influence on Shostakovich's compositional style.

Compositional Technique

Shostakovich's music, like Mahler's, often uses parody and distortion, particularly of martial tunes and popular ditties, and features clarinets and other winds outside their traditional tonal ranges.

Composer Biography

Dmitri Shostakovich was initially favored by Soviet dictator Stalin for his politically correct film scores in the populist style of Socialist Realism.

Historical Context

After the Russian Revolution in 1917, artists initially had some freedom, but this changed after 1927 when Joseph Stalin's rise led to strict enforcement of Socialist Realism.

Recording & Production

This recording was made at the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, Benaroya Hall, in Seattle, with the Symphony No. 5 recorded in June 2004 and The Golden Age in September 2005.

Composition History

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 was composed in 1937 as a response to official criticism, after his opera Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District was condemned by Stalin.

Performer Biography

The Seattle Symphony, founded in 1903, has been led by Music Director Gerard Schwarz since 1985 and is known for its adventurous programming and extensive recording history.