Shostakovich Surviving : An Archetype of the Russian Experience
As Mozart’s birthday year comes to a close, so ends the birthday year of another composer, Dmitry Dmitrievich Shostakovich. Born in 1906, Shostakovich composed during the height of the communist regime and Stalin’s rule. In this first part of a series on Shostakovich’s vocal works, David Thomas sheds light on the life and times of a controversial figure.