When asked about Russian composers, the name that often comes to an individual's mind is usually "Tchaikovsky". But there is much more to Russian composers than Tchaikovsky-the influence of their work extends even to this day. It would be reasonable to think that Dmitri Shostakovich deserves to be commended on this matter.
Considered a very inventive Soviet composer, Shostakovich was(and is) one of the most widely discussed-with a lot of very hot debates. His works came in different flavors-the slow, sorrowful movements of Piano Concerto No.2--the biting, sharp cynicism of Symphony No.5, or the bleak, desolate despair of his various string quartets. Naturally, the great maestro encompassed, and even transcended all these things-but how can an individual derive any sense from it, at all?
A controversial figure, Shostakovich's personality could very well be described as chameleon-like-prone to frequent change, fluctuations, and transformations. Take his Piano Concerto No.1, which pieces every style of music together like a giant quilt – things like vaudeville, jazz, music hall, honky-tonk, and many subtle references to the deceased great composers of the past, like Beethoven or Haydn. Although one can never be sure what to expect next in the music, there is one set-in-stone fact about his music – it could only be by Shostakovich.
Under the oppressive Stalinist regime, Shostakovich was required to compose uplifting music, to hail the patriotisms of Mother Russia. With the watchful, authoritarian eye of the Soviet government on him, Shostakovich was forced to compose something that could be a topical crowd-pleaser at that time-the resulting work turned out to be his 5th Symphony, which was exactly what he needed to have Stalin swung back in favor with him.
Eventually, though, the authoritarianism would prove too much for the great maestro, for he died a broken man, lungs essentially capsized after years of cigarettes to ease the stress that the Stalinist regime had caused so badly. Perhaps with a hint of irony, he was highly praised by the issued official eulogy, hailing him as "finding his inspiration in the reality of Soviet life".
A list of selected compositions can be found below:
-Symphony No. 5 in D Minor
-Symphony No. 7 in C Major
-Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major
-Suite from The Gadfly(1955)
-Cello Sonata in D Minor