Dmitri Shostakovich was born 120 years ago today.

Shostakovich 5th Symphony is the greatest of all time. Have at me.

The BEST Shostakovich symphony. I played the horn solo in the finale before with Corpus Christi Wind Symphony.

Poor fellow had one annoying state committee after another scrutinizing his every jot, every cadence. Art and music was tightly controlled under the Soviets. Tragic, really.

Once a favorite composer, now just another ugly face of the "ruSSian world"

💕

You can’t post this without shouting out piano number 2. Ain’t no damn way brother. My boy Rudolf was willing to die in jail. But. If. Only he could listen to this… one… damn… song…

' “Shostakovich Against Stalin – The War Symphonies”. Described by Shostakovich as his “tombstones for the victims of Stalin”, Symphonies 4 to 9 represented the composer’s weapons against tyranny and remain a powerful testimony of his struggle against all political oppression. The documentary, shot on location in Moscow and St. Petersburg, brings together great performances led by Valery Gergiev, rare archival film material, and personal recollections from family and colleagues. ' Worth a watch.

He knew how to use subtle discordant undertones when he was forced to write a piece of music to please the politburo.

During The siege of Leningrad when nazi’s surrounded it , he played for the people .

❤️

Sorry Sir Schostakovich but you remind me of this horrible american speaker of the house Mike Johnson.

He couldn't help that he was.

He cooked