The War Symphonies: Shostakovich Against Stalin

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Arts Documentary hosted by Graham Haley, published by Rhombus in 1997 - English, Russian Multilanguage narration

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'The War Symphonies: Shostakovich Against Stalin' is a montage of film and musical clips, interviews, readings, narration, and photographs of the life of Dimitri Shostakovich during World War II, the period roughly defined by his Fourth through Ninth Symphonies (1936-1945). Interviews with contemporaries still alive in 1997, including many friends and relatives of Shostakovich, talk about his life and ideals which are illustrated through his symphonies, and the response Stalin had to his work. Valery Gergiev and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, as well as the Orchestra of Mariinsky Theatre, provide musical portions of Shostakovich's symphonies. The War Symphonies provides an intense historical perspective on life in Russia during World War II, especially from the perspective of the fine arts. Some rather dramatic film footage of prisoners being shot to death is included during the portion discussing the Fifth Symphony (1937), a point at which Shostakovich's own life was at stake, and his previous symphony had already been banned. The Siege of Leningrad by the Nazis is described and depicted during the discussion of the Seventh Symphony (1941), which premiered in Leningrad during the heart of the siege, and became a rallying point for the Russian masses as well as Stalin's favorite symphony.