Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10

Sinfonia n.º 10 de Chostakovitch

Live music 20€

Sunday 30 May · 17:00

Concert dedicated to Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10, composed after Stalin's death, reflecting historical tension and the composer's inner richness, exploring themes like the DSCH motif.

Shostakovich composed a total of 15 symphonies, some truly monumental in scale. His prolific musical output inevitably intertwines with the historical context of the Soviet Union and the moments of tension that preceded the composition of this work. In 1948, he was censored, along with other Soviet composers, for writing music considered 'formalist', which placed him in a delicate situation. Although there is debate about the work's genesis, the composer is thought to have embraced the idea of composing this symphony in 1953, after the death of Joseph Stalin in March of that year, albeit without an explicit programme. The work, while not a direct reference to the event, does suggest it in an unusual way. However, as in other works by the composer, the references also indicate a rich inner world, unconnected to a specific programme, ranging through dark moments and other emotional and intense ones. The four movements have a marked character, with distinct features that allow Shostakovich to explore different musical references, such as the DSCH theme associated with his name, present in several movements and giving a sense of unity to the work. The premiere took place on 17 December 1953 in Leningrad, performed by the city's Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Evgeny Mravinsky.