A Festival of Silence and Sound

The Gewandhaus in Leipzig is currently hosting a festival dedicated to the life and works of Dmitri Shostakovich, the renowned Russian composer.In a nod to Shostakovich’s own sentiments, the opening evening notably dispensed with lengthy speeches, allowing the music to speak for itself. As Shostakovich himself wrote in 1958, Talking about the music is tough. This approach sets the tone for a festival deeply immersed in the composer’s complex and frequently enough contradictory legacy.

The festival explores the multifaceted reception of Shostakovich’s work, acknowledging both its embrace by the Soviet regime and its underlying themes of subversion. The question of how the music resonates with listeners,whether through political interpretation or purely on its artistic merit,is a central theme of the event.

Opening Night: From Party to Subversion

The festival commenced with Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, Op. 96. Since its premiere in 1954, commemorating the October Revolution, this piece has become a popular choice for celebrations. The gewandhaus concert hall resonated with the overture’s vibrant strings, gleaming brass melodies, and powerful timpani.

Following the overture, the 2nd Concert for Piano and Orchestra in F major, Op. 102, continued the exuberant mood. Daniil Trifonov took on the solo role, originally played by Shostakovich’s son Maxim in 1957. Trifonov’s performance highlighted the piece’s dreamy and joyful character, earning him extensive applause and bravo calls, particularly for his encore, Scherzo (Op. 1).

The Weight of History: Symphony No. 4

The 4th Symphony in C minor, Op. 43, presented a stark contrast.Composed in the mid-1930s but not premiered until 1961, the symphony’s delayed performance raises questions about Shostakovich’s personal reservations or fears of political criticism. The symphony’s intensity was palpable, with the first movement evoking the sound of machine guns and the flutes whistling before the violins sob in calmer moments.

Under the direction of Andris Nelsons, the orchestra navigated the complex score, culminating in a third movement featuring a delicate, dark sequence played on the celesta. The Gewandhaus audience responded with a prolonged standing ovation, acknowledging the profound emotional impact of the performance.

A Wife’s Outlook: “Two – The Story told By Shostakovitch’s Wife”

The festival’s second day included a film screening in the Mendelssohn Hall: “Two – The Story Told By Shostakovitch’s Wife” (2022). Russian filmmaker Elena Yakovich’s documentary draws on rare material from interviews with Shostakovich’s wife, Irina Antonowna, who had previously declined all interview requests for years. Yakovich explained that shostakovich spoke about cursing his wife would tell her about her both life.

The film presents a personal perspective on Shostakovich’s life, juxtaposing the threats he faced with images of daily life, depicting hunger and cold alongside artistic creation and the fluctuating reception of his music.

A Thorough Celebration

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Shostakovich’s death, the Gewandhaus festival continues with numerous concerts showcasing the breadth of his work. The festival embraces Shostakovich’s belief that A symphony is dead provided that it is indeed not played and heard, extending this sentiment to his entire oeuvre.The program includes not only all of his symphonies but also solo concertos, chamber and piano music, and also songs and operas, running until June 1st.

Festival Highlights

• »Orchester we«

  Gewandhausorchester, Boston Symphony Orchestra & Andris Nelsons (conductor) perform Dmitri Shostakovich’s 7th Symphony in C major, Op. 60 (»Leningrader«). Thu, May 22, 7:30 p.m., Gewandhaus, Great Hall.

• »Orchester IX«

  Gewandhaus orchestra,gentlemen of the MDR radio choir,the choir of the opera Leipzig,and the Gewandhaus choir,Andris Nelsons (conductor),Michael Schönig (organ),Baiba Skride (violin),Günther Groissböck (bass) perform Dmitri Shostakovich’s Passacaglia from the opera “Lady Macbeth from Mzensk” (arranged for organ),2nd concert for violin and orchestra in C sharp minor,Op. 129, and 13th Symphony in B flat minor, op. 113 (»Babi Yar«). Wed, May 28, 7:30 p.m., Gewandhaus, Great Hall.

• »Quartett V«

  Four Danel perform Dmitri Shostakovich’s 4th String Quartet in D major, op. 83, two pieces for string quartet, and 12th string quartet in C sharp minor, Op. 133.Fri, May 30, 3 p.m., Gewandhaus, Mendelssohn Hall.