Shostakovich’s use of Jewish motifs and themes in his music was, even after the death of the virulently anti-Semitic Stalin, an act of defiance. This show presents music in which those motifs and themes – and Shostakovich’s empathy for the Jewish people – are upfront. Included are movements from two string quartets, a song cycle, a piano trio, and a violin concerto, along with the first movement of his 13th symphony, a setting of Yevteshenko’s poem “Babi Yar”, which confronted the horror of Nazi savagery in the Ukraine and, implicitly, anti-Semitism in the USSR. The dates in parentheses are, first, the year the composition was completed, and, second, the year the piece was premiered to the public.
0:00:18
Shostakovich: From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79 (1948/1955);
No. 1. The Lament for the Dead Child
Marina Zhukova & Elena Svechnikova w/ Vladimir Spivakov: Moscow Virtuosi
(Music Masters)
0:08:07
Shostakovich: From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79 (1948/1955);
No. 2. The Helpful Mother & Aunt
0:12:45
Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 2 (1944/1944);
IV. Allegretto
Emmanuel Ax (p), Isaac Stern (v) Yo-Yo Ma (c)
(Sony)
0:26:09
Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 4 in D Major, Op. 83 (1949/1953);
IV. Allegretto
Beethoven Quartet
(Doremi)
0:36:49
Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 77 (1948/1955);
IV. Burlesque
David Oistrakh w/ Yevgeny Mravinsky: Leningrad PO
(Brilliant Classics)
0:58:49
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13 in B-flat minor, Op. 113 (1962/1962);
I. Babi Yar (words: Yevgeny Yevtushenko)
Ayik Martyrosyan (bass) w/ Valeri Polyansky: Russian State SO
& Symphonic Capella
(Chandos)
(also pictured: Kirill Kondrashin)
1:21:20
Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 10 in A-flat major, Op. 118 (1964/1964);
III. Adagio (Attacca) & IV. (Allegretto/Andante)
Beethoven Quartet
(Doremi)
1:36:57
Shostakovich: From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79; No. 3, “Lullaby”
Marina Zhukova & Elena Svechnikova w/ Spivakov: Moscow Virtuosi
(Music Masters)
Concentration Camp 