Russian Composer Dmitry Shostakovich

Dmitry Dmitriyevich Shostakovich (1906-1975)

20th Century Russian Composer, Pianist and Music Professor

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Biography of Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich, his life and works. One of 20th century’s greatest symphonists, famous for Symphony No.5.

Dmitry Shostakovich is one of 20th century’s greatest Soviet composers. He excelled in symphonies, writing about 15 of them, with the Fifth Symphony considered his finest composition.  He is known for his dramatic and expressive music.

Born in St Petersburg on September 25, 1906, he entered the conservatory in 1919 and studied with Glazunov. When he left in 1925, he had already written his First Symphony, the music that got him acclaimed and earned his reputation as a composer.

Shostakovich was initially shattered by denunciations of his work, labeled as not always to official Soviet government taste.  A similar subterfuge is deemed found in his Seventh Symphony’s 1st movement, that is, arising from the siege of Leningrad, with the march theme suggesting Stalinist oppression. Even in later years, his 13th Symphony set poems by Yevtushenko hinted at Soviet disregard of the Holocaust and was banned.

However, the reputation of Shostakovich grew widespread after his death in 1975.  He wrote 15 symphonies, chamber and film music, and operas.

Related Shostakovich article:   Shostakovich: Symphony Master