Re: Shostakovich's 5th - Triumph or Tragedy?


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Posted by Bob on February 15, 2001 at 08:14:34:

In Reply to: Shostakovich's 5th - Triumph or Tragedy? posted by Aubrey Foard on February 15, 2001 at 00:02:14:

For many years, the 5th was viewed as an "apology" for the 4th which was severely criticized by the Soviet Government (Stalin). Stalin was still alive when the 5th was written and premiered so it must have a difficult situation for Shostakovich.

In 1956 (I think) Leonard Bernstein took the NY Philharmonic to Russia and performed the 5th, which he then recorded. The tempo of the last movement was very fast and both the Russians and the Americans were favorable to this approach. It made the symphony triumphant rather than tragic.

My own view is that the 5th is a precursor to the 10th, but, given the situation Shostakovich was in, the "real" 10th had to wait until Stalin's death. The genius of the 5th is to get the idea of the 10th across and still not offend Stalin. He did quite well.


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