To all appearances, this period of Russian music was dominated by the work of Shostakovich – and, judging by the succession of masterpieces which flowed from his hand, he seems to have thrived creatively in the less repressive years which followed Stalin’s death. Of course, the real picture was far more complicated as composer and state continued their uneasy cat-and-mouse game. Also, though, there are a number of lesser-known but significant composers whose music is well worth exploring: a first group who were roughly contemporary with or slightly younger than Shostakovich, and a second, more radical group who emerged during the 1960s and 70s.
Recommended reading:
- Schwarz, Music and Musical Life in Soviet Russia: 1917-1981. London, 1983.
- Tsenova, Underground music from the former USSR. London, 1998.
There are many books about Shostakovich, of which these are a selection:
- L.E. Fay, Shostakovich: A Life. New York, 1999.
- MacDonald, The New Shostakovich. London, 1990.
- Volkov, Testimony: The Memoirs of Dmitri Shostakovich. London, 1987.Wilson, Shostakovich: a Life Remembered. London, 1994.
- For details of controversies over interpreting his music, seehttp://www.siue.edu/~aho/musov/deb/deb.html
Day: Mondays Time: 2pm– 4pm
Six weeks, starting 6th November-11th December, 2017.
Venue:
Brook Road Methodist Church,
Davyhulme,
Urmston
M41 5RQ
Price | Concessions | Minimum No. | Maximum No. |
£54 | 10 | 30 |
Please book before 24th October, 2017
To book, complete the MANCENT booking form and send it with payment to
Gareth Curtis, 25 Westbourne Park, Urmston, Manchester, M41 0XR
email: curtismusic@btinternet.com phone:0161 747 8687