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Shostakovich, Dmitry

SHOSTAKOVICH, DMITRY (1906 - 1975)

Dmitry Shostakovich belongs to the generation of composers trained principally after the Communist Revolution of 1917. He graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory as a pianist and composer, his First Symphony winning immediate favour. His subsequent career in Russia varied with the political climate. The initial success of his opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District (later revised as Katerina Ismailova) was followed by official condemnation, emanating apparently from Stalin himself. The composer's Fifth Symphony, in 1937, brought partial rehabilitation, while the war years offered a propaganda coup in the Leningrad Symphony, performed in the city under German siege. In 1948 he fell foul of the official musical establishment with a Ninth Symphony thought to be frivolous, but enjoyed the relative freedom following the death of Stalin in 1953. Posthumous information suggests that despite appearing to conform with official policy, Shostakovich remained very critical of Stalinist dictates, particularly with regard to music and the arts. He occupies a significant position in the 20th century as a symphonist and as a composer of chamber music, writing in a style that is sometimes spare in texture but always accessible, couched as it is in an extension of traditional tonal musical language.

Stage Works

Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District (Katerina Izmaylova) remains the principal of Shostakovich's operas. Other operas such as The Nose and his posthumously completed The Gamblers have also garnered attention. His ballets The Golden Age, The Bolt, and The Limpid Stream all had their premieres in Leningrad. For plays, he wrote incidental music for Shakespeare's Hamlet and King Lear. He also wrote music for nearly 40 films, including The Gadfly and Five Days-Five Nights.

Orchestral Music
The fifteen symphonies of Shostakovich range in scope from the First Symphony of 1925, a graduation composition, to the embittered Thirteenth using Yevtushenko's poems. The Fourteenth, which contains settings of various poems came two years before the Fifteenth and last symphony of 1971. The Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh symphonies are most often heard, while Nos. 2 and 3, with Nos. 11 and 12, have more overtly patriotic suggestions about them. Shostakovich wrote an early concerto for piano, trumpet and strings, and a second piano concerto, a vehicle for his son Maxim, in 1957. He wrote two violin concertos and two cello concertos.

Choral and Vocal Music
Choral works by Shostakovich include The Execution of Stepan Razin, a setting of a text by Yevtushenko. His solo songs are generally less overtly political, evidence of a private rather than public voice.

Chamber Music
The fifteen String Quartets by Shostakovich form a remarkable body of work, lucid in texture, often moving in musical content. The intensely felt Viola Sonata of 1975 is the third of his duo sonatas, preceded by the 1934 Cello Sonata and the Violin Sonata of 1968. To these may be added the second Piano Trio and a G minor Piano Quintet, written in 1940.

Piano Music
The piano music of Shostakovich includes, in addition to two piano sonatas, an ingenious set of 24 Preludes and Fugues, as well as an earlier set of 24 Preludes.

Discography
Image	Title	Price	Release Date	Label
	TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I. / SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: String Quartets (Borodin String Quartet) (NTSC)	$24.99	Nov 18, 2008	EuroArts DVD
	Piano Recital: Stott, Kathryn - SHOSTAKOVICH, D. / GINASTERA, A. / BARTOK, B. / DVORAK, A. / TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I. / SIBELIUS, J. (Dance)	$18.99	Oct 28, 2008	Chandos
	COLGRASS: Urban Requiem / SAINT-SAENS: Introduction et rondo capriccioso / SHOSTAKOVICH: Overture on Russian and Kyrgyz Folk Themes (arr. for winds)	$8.99	Jun 24, 2008	Naxos Wind Band Classics
	BACH, J.S.: Well-Tempered Clavier (The), (excerpts) / SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: 24 Preludes and Fugues (excerpts) (arr. for brass quintet) (Onyx Brass)	$18.99	Jun 24, 2008	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87 (Jalbert)	$24.99	Mar 25, 2008	ATMA Classique
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Odna (Alone)	$8.99	Jan 29, 2008	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 15 / TCHAIKOVSKY, B.: Theme and 8 Variations	$16.99	Jul 31, 2007	Profil
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 7, "Leningrad"	$16.99	Mar 27, 2007	Profil
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 9	$19.99	Mar 27, 2007	Pentatone Music
	SHOSTAKOVICH: The Golden Age, Op. 22	$17.99	Nov 21, 2006	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Cello Sonata / Violin Sonata	$8.99	Oct 31, 2006	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Sonata No. 2 / The Limpid Stream (piano transcription)	$8.99	Sep 26, 2006	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Film Music, Vol. 3- Hamlet, The Unforgettable Year 1919, 5 Days - 5 Nights, The Young Guard	$18.99	Sep 1, 2006	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: The Fall of Berlin / The Unforgettable Year 1919 Suite	$8.99	Aug 29, 2006	Naxos Cinema Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH (An Introduction to)	$11.99	Aug 1, 2006	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 4	$16.99	Jul 18, 2006	Profil
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 8	$19.99	Jun 20, 2006	Pentatone Music
	THE VERY BEST OF SHOSTAKOVICH	$12.99	Apr 18, 2006	Naxos Best Of...
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 9 / Piano Concerto No. 1 / 2 Choruses after A. Davidenko	$18.99	Apr 1, 2006	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: October, Op. 132	$8.99	Mar 21, 2006	Naxos Orchestral
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Portrait	$17.99	Mar 21, 2006	Naxos Educational
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 6	$19.99	Mar 21, 2006	Pentatone Music
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 11, "The Year 1905"	$19.99	Feb 21, 2006	Pentatone Music
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Suite / 6 Romances / October	$18.99	Feb 1, 2006	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 (Kogan, Moscow Radio Tchaikovksy Symphony Orchestra, Shostakovich, M.)	$16.99	Jan 1, 2006	Delos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Violin Concerto No. 1 / Symphony No. 6	$16.99	Aug 16, 2005	Artek
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 6: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 12	$18.99	Jul 1, 2005	Chandos
	PROKOFIEV / KHACHATURIAN / SHOSTAKOVICH: Russian Ballet Suites	$19.99	Jun 1, 2005	Pentatone Music
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Jazz Suites Nos. 1 - 2 / The Bolt / Tahiti Trot	$14.99	Mar 22, 2005	Naxos Dvd Audio
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 4 (arr. for 2 pianos)	$18.99	Mar 1, 2005	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Hamlet, Op. 116	~~$14.99~~ $9.99	Feb 22, 2005	Naxos Dvd Audio
	SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Songs (Complete), Vol. 5 - Famous Vocal Cycles	$16.99	Jan 1, 2005	Delos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Ballet Suites Nos. 1-4	$8.99	Oct 19, 2004	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 5: String Quartets Nos. 5 and 15	$18.99	Sep 1, 2004	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Hamlet, Op. 116	$8.99	Jun 1, 2004	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Hamlet, Op. 116 / 116a	~~$14.99~~ $9.99	Jun 1, 2004	Naxos Dvd Audio
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 7, 'Leningrad'	$14.99	Apr 1, 2004	Naxos Dvd Audio
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 7, 'Leningrad'	$8.99	Apr 1, 2004	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 7, 'Leningrad'	$14.99	Apr 1, 2004	Naxos Dvd Audio
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Cello Sonata (arr. for Viola) / Viola Sonata	$8.99	Mar 1, 2004	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Film Music, Vol. 2	$18.99	Mar 1, 2004	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH / TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Trios	$16.99	Feb 1, 2004	ATMA Classique
	SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Songs (Complete), Vol. 4 - Unknown Shostakovich (1932-1968)	$16.99	Jan 1, 2004	Delos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Sonata No. 1 / 24 Preludes	$8.99	Oct 1, 2003	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 4: String Quartets Nos 2 and 14	$18.99	Sep 1, 2003	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Violin Sonata / 24 Preludes	$11.99	Jun 1, 2003	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Suite from Katerina Izmailova / Ballet Suites Nos. 1-5 / Festive Overture	$24.99	Jun 1, 2003	Chandos
	Dmitry SHOSTAKOVICH: Jazz Suites Nos. 1 & 2	~~$14.99~~ $9.99	Jun 1, 2003	Naxos Dvd Audio
	SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartets Nos. 1-13	$29.99	Apr 1, 2003	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Fall of Berlin / The Unforgettable Year 1919	$9.99	Jan 1, 2003	Marco Polo
	SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Songs (Complete), Vol. 3 - Early Works (1922-1942)	$16.99	Jan 1, 2003	Delos
	SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Symphony No. 11, "The Year 1905" (Oregon Symphony, DePreist)	$16.99	Jan 1, 2003	Delos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 and 2	$11.99	Jan 1, 2003	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Film Music, Vol. 1	$18.99	Nov 1, 2002	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH / SCHNITTKE: Piano Quintets	$8.99	Oct 1, 2002	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Jazz Suites Nos. 1 - 2 / The Bolt / Tahiti Trot	$8.99	May 1, 2002	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Songs (Complete), Vol. 2	$16.99	Jan 1, 2002	Delos
	SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Songs (Complete), Vol. 1 - Vocal Cycles of the Fifties (1950-1956)	$16.99	Jan 1, 2002	Delos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 6 / Execution of Stepan Razin	$18.99	Nov 1, 2001	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 3	$18.99	Sep 1, 2001	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Theatre Music for Piano	$18.99	Apr 1, 2001	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87	$17.99	Feb 1, 2001	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Symphonies Nos. 6 and 10 (Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Litton)	$16.99	Jan 1, 2001	Delos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Violin Concerto No. 1 / Symphony No. 5	$2.99	Jan 1, 2001	Amadis
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 10 / The Great Lightning	$18.99	Oct 1, 2000	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Chamber Symphony / Symphony for Strings / From Jewish folk Poetry	$11.99	Jul 1, 2000	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Chamber Symphony / SCHNITTKE, A.: Piano Concerto (Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Orbelian)	$16.99	Jan 1, 2000	Delos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 2: String Quartets Nos 3, 4, and 11	$18.99	Jan 1, 2000	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Overture to Dressel's Der arme Columbus / 8 Preludes (arr. for orchestra)	$18.99	Jan 1, 2000	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 9	$2.99	Sep 14, 1999	Amadis
	SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartets (Complete), Vol. 1	$18.99	Jun 1, 1999	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Symphony No. 5 / Festive Overture (Litton, Dallas Symphony Orchestra)	$16.99	Jan 1, 1999	Delos
	Orchestral Music (Russian) - TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I. / GLIERE, R. / SCRIABIN, A. / SHOSTAKOVICH, D. / GEDIKE, A.F. (Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Orbelian)	$16.99	Jan 1, 1999	Delos
	SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Orchestral Music (Waltzes) (Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Orbelian)	$16.99	Jan 1, 1999	Delos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 13, "Babi Yar"	$18.99	Nov 1, 1998	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartets Nos. 10, 11 and 13	$8.99	Apr 23, 1998	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 7	$18.99	Mar 1, 1998	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartets Nos. 14 and 15	$8.99	Feb 17, 1998	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: From Jewish Folk Poetry / New Babylon	$18.99	Feb 1, 1998	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Moscow, Cheryomushki	$34.99	Nov 1, 1997	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH (THE BEST OF)	$8.99	Jun 11, 1997	Naxos Best Of...
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 2	$8.99	Apr 19, 1997	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Trios Nos. 1 and 2	$8.99	Mar 7, 1997	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: The Gadfly / Five Days-Five Nights	$8.99	Jan 20, 1997	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartets Nos. 2 and 4	$2.99	Jan 1, 1997	Amadis
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 and 2	$8.99	Jul 5, 1996	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartets Nos. 2 and 12	$8.99	Feb 26, 1996	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Limpid Stream (The), Op. 39	$18.99	Dec 1, 1995	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartets Nos. 3 and 5	$8.99	Nov 3, 1995	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2	$8.99	Aug 3, 1995	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: Bolt (The) (Complete)	$34.99	Feb 1, 1995	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartets Nos 1, 8 and 9	$8.99	Oct 4, 1994	Naxos Classics
	SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartets Nos. 4, 6 and 7	$8.99	May 27, 1994	Naxos Classics