Throughout this week in the 1 o’clock hour of Intermezzo, host Chris Wolf explores the expressive, exuberant and emotional writing of Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich in celebration of his birthday, September 25th.

 

Born in Saint Petersburg, Russia in 1906, Shostakovich studied piano (he even performed in the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw, receiving and honourable mention) and composition at the Petrograd Conservatory. As a young composer, the musical and cultural climate in the Soviet Union was rather free, and his influences included Stravinsky, Berg and Tchaikovsky. Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 1 in F Minor (1924-25) would bring him recognition not only from the government but the world. However, Shostakovich was a product of his time. The artistic demands of the government would continue to increase, and the polystylist writings of Shostakovich moved from experimental to national to defiant works. Host Chris Wolf will showcase bits of each found in his symphonic writing throughout the week.

Find below two links to symphonies featured during the week: 

Symphony no. 1 in F Minor (1924-24) 

 

 

Symphony no 8 in C Minor (1943) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAKCr5LCf9M&t=1785s

 

And here is a great film about the life of Shostakovich told from the perspective of a film director:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Save