Shostokovich

[Turbineguy]

Listening to the two Piano Concertos. I wonder if he'd been alive today if he would have kept his music under wraps until Putin died, like he did with a few compositions during Stalin. The First Violin Concerto was written in 1948 but didn't get performed until after that fuckin' Stalin croaked.

[defacto7]

1. This was certainly a rich period for Russian

composers and musicians. Shostokovich was a very introverted, shy man I understand. He wrote his angst into his music. I'm not sure there's a strong comparison between Stalin and Putin in this context but I doubt Shostokovich would be as fearful now as many were then. Just my opinion.

[pangaia]

2. You are right.

In this regard there is no comparison.


Although Stalin knew a little something about classical music, Shostakovich managed to write quite a bit under Stalin's nose, so to speak.
Putin doesn't know shit.

On the other hand, there are Russian ex-pat musicians who may not choose to visit the motherland.I know a couple or three.

[fierywoman]

3. Do you know the book -- biography -- of Shostakovitch that came out in the late 70s

or early 80s? VERY interesting !