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Donald Macleod looks at the end of the second World War and explores how it changed life for Shostakovich

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 Friday’s programme, Donald explores the end of the second World War, and sees Russia celebrate with a lavish Red Square parade. For Shostakovich the end of the conflict is overshadowed by the horror of the atomic bomb, but nevertheless, he puts pen to a ‘victory’ symphony. It is music which will lead to the composer once again being censored as once again he finds himself blacklisted by the state. Donald also explores whether we can draw anything from his music to tell us what Shostakovich’s opinions of the war were.

Four Pushkin Romances (No 1, Rebirth)
Gareth Brynmor John, baritone
Jocelyn Freeman, piano

String Quartet No 2 in A major, Op 68 (3rd mvt, Valse Allegro)
Cuarteto Casals

Symphony No 9 in E-flat major, Op 70 (5th mvt, Allegretto)
WDR Sinfonieorchester
Rudolf Barshai

Violin Concerto No 1 in A minor, Op 99 (1st mvt, Nocturne)
Maxim Vengerov, violin
London Symphony Orchestra
Mstislav Rsotropovich, conductor

From Jewish Poetry (No 8, Winter)
Rodney Nolan, tenor
I Musici de Montreal
Yuli Turovsky, conductor

Symphony No 13 (1st mvt, Babi Yar. Adagio)
Arthur Eisen, bass
Male Group of Republican Russian Academic Choir Capella
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra
Kirill Kondrashin, conductor

Produced by Sam Phillips for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Audio Wales & West