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Donald Macleod explores Shostakovich’s relationship with Leningrad, the city of his birth, and the music of his famous score which relates to the time of the city’s greatest trial

Donald Macleod explores Shostakovich’s relationship with Leningrad, the city of his birth, and the music of his most famous and expansive score which relates to the time of the city’s greatest trial

Donald Macleod explores Dmitri Shostakovich’s life during the years of World War II, a period indelibly linked to his most famous work – the ‘Leningrad’ symphony - which became an international symbol of resistance against the Nazis when it was performed by an orchestra suffering from the effects of starvation during the siege of the city.

In Tuesday’s programme, Donald explores Shostakovich’s relationship with Leningrad, exploring his studies, his work teaching at the city’s conservatoire, the ups and downs of his turbulent marriage, and the music of his most famous and expansive score which relates to the time of the city’s greatest trial – the siege of Leningrad.

The tale of the priest and his servant Balda, Op 36 (Finale)
Leipzig MDR Symphony Orchestra
Dmitri Kitayenko, conductor

Symphony No 1 in F minor, Op 10 (2nd mvt, Allegro)
Russian National Orchestra
Vladimir Jurowski, conductor

Veniamin Fleishman/ Dmitri Shostakovich
Rothschild’s violin – Wedding Band; Ty chto igraesh
USSR ministry of Culture Orchestra
Gennady Rozhdestvensky, conductor

Piano Sonata No 1, Op 12
Yulianna Avdeeva, piano

Symphony No 7 in C Major, Op 60 “Leningrad” (1at mvt, Allegretto)
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Kurt Masur, conductor

Produced by Sam Phillips for ѿý Audio Wales & West

Release date:

59 minutes

Broadcast

  • Tue 5 Aug 2025 16:00

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