In his memoirs—supposedly related to Solomon Volkov—Dmitri Shostakovich suggests, “Fear of death may be the most intense emotion of all. I sometimes think that there is no deeper feeling. The irony lies in the fact that under the influence of

Jazz Suite no.1 III. Foxtrot (Blues) From SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Jazz Suites Nos. 1 and 2 / The Bolt Suite / Tahiti Trot (2002) Released by Naxos Shostakovich: Jazz Suite no.1 – III. Foxtrot (Blues)Shostakovich was most definitely a light-and-shade composer.

Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 35 II. Lento From SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 / String Quartet No. 8 (arr. for piano) (2017) Released by Naxos Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Minor,

Together with Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Prokofiev, Dimitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) unquestionably represents the pinnacle of 20th-century Russian music. Contrary to his famous compatriots who sought employment in the West, Shostakovich was educated entirely under the Soviet system. Even at times

“Minors of the Majors” invites you to discover compositions by the great classical composers that for one reason or another have not reached the musical mainstream. Please enjoy, and keep listening!

With the German Sixteenth Army strategically entrenched just thirty miles southeast of Leningrad, the city also known as St. Petersburg got ready for the most prolonged siege of World War II. Among the citizens of Leningrad was a thirty-four-year-old composer

Eine kleine Symphonie (Quartet No. 1), Op. 49a: III. Allegro molto From Chamber Symphonies – Dmitri Shostakovitch (2015) Released by Harmonia Mundi Shostakovitch: Eine kleine Symphonie (Quartet No. 1), Op. 49a: III. Allegro moltoA decade after its debut performance of

Joseph Stalin was not a particularly nice man! Once he had consolidated near-absolute power in the 1930’s, he ruthlessly eliminated any opposition. That meant banishing “counter-revolutionary infiltrators” to the Gulag labour camps, deported nonconformists to the furthest regions of the