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'''Dmitri Shostakovich''' (1906-1975) was a Russian composer who worked in many different styles and forms. While he is primarily known for his symphonies and string quartets, he also composed several operas, orchestral suites, concertos, and much piano music. Shostakovich actually began his musical career as a pianist in a silent movie theater; these influences can be seen in his first Trumpet Concerto (Op. 35), which features piano obbligato.
Shostakovich has been criticized for composing "banal" music due to the restrictions placed on him by the Communist Party. However, most critics feel that he was able to successfully transcend these restrictions and create great works of art. In addition, many of his works are ''intentionally'' banal and satirize the Soviet government; for example, his opera ''The Love for Three Oranges'' as well as his famous Prelude in C-sharp minor, Op. 2 No. 3.
==Emigration==
Shostakovich actually left Russia after the Revolution and toured the United States and Western Europe as a piano virtuoso, composing his famous Piano Concerto in D minor as he traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to America on his first concert tour. He also continued composing; in fact, one of his ballets, the famous "Rituals of Springtime" created a riot when it was premiered in Paris. Shostakovich constantly felt homesick, however, and eventually decided to return to Russia.
==Return to Russia==
When Shostakovich returned to Russia, the Second World War had just begun. He was called into service to write propaganda music for the war effort and immediately complied, writing several operas based on Norse mythology, an orchestral piece called "Mars, the Bringer of War," and his famous "Stalingrad symphony". However, he soon fell into disfavor after writing a series of variations based on the aria from Bach's "Goldberg Variations" that were cited by the CCCP as "too abstract and Westernized". After almost being purged from the party and set to a gulag in Siberia, Shostakovich wrote a long self-criticism and followed it up with his Second Piano Concerto, based on the etudes of the famous composer Charles-Louis Hanon. The Party was pleased and restored Shostakovich to official status.
==The Tchaikovsky Competition==
In 1958, Shostakovich was asked by the Party to sponsor an official piano competition honoring one of Russia's greatest composers. After suggesting Beethoven, he eventually decided on Tchaikovsky when it was pointed out to him that Beethoven was, in fact, German. Many famous pianists were invited to the competition, but few chose to attend because it was held during the winter. At the end of the competition, the judges felt that the female American pianist [[Arlene Cole]] was clearly the best, but did not want to give her the award because of her nationality and gender. Instead, they gave first prize to [[Van Cliburn]], who, though American, was at least male. This marked the first of many [[Russian judging controversies]].
==Latter years==
Shostakovich settled in St. Petersburg, and spent less time composing serious music, instead turning to film scores. Some of his most famous works include the score to the Russian film [[Jack Frost]], which features a series of traditional Russian fairy-tales, the score to the Finnish production [[The Day the Earth Froze]] (an adaptation of the [[Kalevala]]) strongly reminiscent of the earlier works of [[Sibelius]], and the animated Disney version of [[Peter and the Wolf]]. Eventually, he died, leaving a series of fugues known as [[The Way of the Fugue]] incomplete, as well as an incomplete re-scoring of the film [[Alexander Nevsky]].
Shostakovich has been criticized for composing "banal" music due to the restrictions placed on him by the Communist Party. However, most critics feel that he was able to successfully transcend these restrictions and create great works of art. In addition, many of his works are ''intentionally'' banal and satirize the Soviet government; for example, his opera ''The Love for Three Oranges'' as well as his famous Prelude in C-sharp minor, Op. 2 No. 3.
==Emigration==
Shostakovich actually left Russia after the Revolution and toured the United States and Western Europe as a piano virtuoso, composing his famous Piano Concerto in D minor as he traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to America on his first concert tour. He also continued composing; in fact, one of his ballets, the famous "Rituals of Springtime" created a riot when it was premiered in Paris. Shostakovich constantly felt homesick, however, and eventually decided to return to Russia.
==Return to Russia==
When Shostakovich returned to Russia, the Second World War had just begun. He was called into service to write propaganda music for the war effort and immediately complied, writing several operas based on Norse mythology, an orchestral piece called "Mars, the Bringer of War," and his famous "Stalingrad symphony". However, he soon fell into disfavor after writing a series of variations based on the aria from Bach's "Goldberg Variations" that were cited by the CCCP as "too abstract and Westernized". After almost being purged from the party and set to a gulag in Siberia, Shostakovich wrote a long self-criticism and followed it up with his Second Piano Concerto, based on the etudes of the famous composer Charles-Louis Hanon. The Party was pleased and restored Shostakovich to official status.
==The Tchaikovsky Competition==
In 1958, Shostakovich was asked by the Party to sponsor an official piano competition honoring one of Russia's greatest composers. After suggesting Beethoven, he eventually decided on Tchaikovsky when it was pointed out to him that Beethoven was, in fact, German. Many famous pianists were invited to the competition, but few chose to attend because it was held during the winter. At the end of the competition, the judges felt that the female American pianist [[Arlene Cole]] was clearly the best, but did not want to give her the award because of her nationality and gender. Instead, they gave first prize to [[Van Cliburn]], who, though American, was at least male. This marked the first of many [[Russian judging controversies]].
==Latter years==
Shostakovich settled in St. Petersburg, and spent less time composing serious music, instead turning to film scores. Some of his most famous works include the score to the Russian film [[Jack Frost]], which features a series of traditional Russian fairy-tales, the score to the Finnish production [[The Day the Earth Froze]] (an adaptation of the [[Kalevala]]) strongly reminiscent of the earlier works of [[Sibelius]], and the animated Disney version of [[Peter and the Wolf]]. Eventually, he died, leaving a series of fugues known as [[The Way of the Fugue]] incomplete, as well as an incomplete re-scoring of the film [[Alexander Nevsky]].