Shostakovich was anti-Soviet

He composed stuff that was over the top, a caricature, when instructed to write for the glory of the Soviet Union. The people who commissioned the works didn't know enough about what they were hearing to realise it.

I don't listen to him much, though his later string quartets are quite something (the last one, no 15, written when he knew he was dying, is incredibly moving though you have to be in the right mood to listen to it). Very interesting guy though.

Posted By: Old Man on February 5th 2017 at 12:43:29

Message Thread

I went to see The Norwich P (n/m) (General Chat) - emmaroyds, Feb 5, 11:30:15
- Philharmonic last night (General Chat) - emmaroyds, Feb 5, 11:32:18
  - me too. Liked the first movement of the Copland. The Shostakovich was a bit Soviet (n/m) (General Chat) - Higher Wrather, Feb 5, 12:34:35
    - Shostakovich was anti-Soviet (General Chat) - Old Man, Feb 5, 12:43:29
      - His 12th Symphony was titled "The Year 1917", and is very programmatic. The movements are (General Chat) - Higher Wrather, Feb 5, 12:55:04
        
        Oh he did, but because he had to, not because he wanted to (General Chat) - Old Man, Feb 5, 13:09:40
        
        It's tempting to interpret his music and his behaviour from our Western, and post-Soviet, (General Chat) - Higher Wrather, Feb 5, 13:18:44
      - I won't pretend to understand it all (General Chat) - emmaroyds, Feb 5, 12:51:13
      - You are such a brilliant posted om. 👍 (n/m) (General Chat) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Feb 5, 12:49:02
  - Didn't realise there was one. (General Chat) - avenging canary, Feb 5, 11:35:13

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