Dmitri Shostakovich Family very liberal Age 13- entered St. Petersburg Conservatory –Academically successful –Suffered for lack of political enthusiasm Post Graduation - career as concert pianist and composer. Labeled a “Formalist” by the Russian Association of Proletarian Musicians - Formalism: “any art which used complex techniques and forms accessible only to the elite, rather than being simplified for ‘the people’“

Dmitri Shostakovich ’s- worked for a theatre company –Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District 1936-Series of attacks in Pravda –Muddle Instead of Music No commission= no $$$ –Responded with Symphony No. 5

Dmitri Shostakovich “The Great Terror” Symphonies=public Chamber=private (experimental, expressive) 1941-WW2 (St. Petersburg=Leningrad) –in Leningrad during siege –Began Symphony. No 7 “Leningrad” (heroic) Moved to Moscow –9 th Symphony- Neoclassic parody

Dmitri Shostakovich Second Piano Trio –Dedicated to close friend Sollertinsky –Totentanz finale Denounced again –Privileges taken away –Most works banned –Public repentance 13 total symphonies Late works show preoccupation of death