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Tikhon Khrennikov was the most powerful - and controversial - figure of 20th century Soviet music. For over 40 years, he led the Union of Soviet Composers, a role for which he was handpicked by Stalin himself. Not simply a bureaucrat, Khrennikov played a double role: composing bright, accessible tunes celebrated by the regime, while condemning his peers Shostakovich and Prokofiev to the point of career ruin. Author and broadcaster, Lucy Ash uncovers the contradictions of a man who thrived under a system that crushed others. Featuring contributions from experts Marina Frolova-Walker and Pauline Fairclough, persecuted composer Elena Firsova, and world-renowned concert pianist Evgeny Kissin - who knew and admired Khrennikov. Lucy asks whether Tikhon Khrennikov was a true believer, a manipulator, or a reluctant accomplice in Soviet repression, a survivor. From the 1948 Zhdanov Decree that vilified “formalist” composers to the scandal of the Khrennikov Seven in 1979, this programme maps Khrennikov’s influence across decades of cultural control. It explores the personal tensions between Khrennikov and Shostakovich, the regime-backed aesthetics of Socialist Realism, and the enduring question of whether music can ever be apolitical in a dictatorship. This is the story of a man who shaped the sound of the USSR, as well as its silence. Producer: Katie Hill Executive Producer: Steven Rajam Sound mixing: Arlie Adlington An Overcoat Media Production for ��ѿ��ý Radio 3.