In Praise of Dmitri Shostakovich

A pipsqueak musical “expert” writing in the mainstream media once put forward his list of the Seven Greatest Composers. Why he chose just seven, and not six or nine, was not clear. However, he nominated Igor Stravinsky as “the greatest composer of the 20^th century”.

Nothing against old Igor, and he did write some splendid music, including the Firebird and Petrouchka. But “great” or “greatest”? For the record, I recognise much great music – particularly written during the 18^th and 19^th centuries, great meaning to me music that will probably be enjoyed and listened to for over 200 years. Again for the record, I don't think the 20^th century produced much, or any, “great” music. Sergei Rachmaninov maybe, but he was really more end-of 19^th than 20^th century. And maybe Dmitri Shostakovich whose tenth symphony I have just been listening to in a 2010 public performance by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mariss Jansons. The tenth symphony is a major work, and justly popular. Jansons and the Bavarians bring out the angst and sheer terror recorded in the work (that Shostakovich did not dare reveal until after the death of Stalin). The recording quality here is excellent, but most listeners will need headphones because the dynamics in the terror passages become extremely loud.

Shostakovich wrote many, many major works amongst his 15 symphonies, 15 string quartets and much chamber music. His first violin concerto — another work unpublished until Stalin had died — is probably my favourite violin concerto. (The violin concertos by Beethoven and Brahms are almost certainly even greater, but after nearly 70 years of listening to them I have heard them a little too often). So was it Shostakovich rather than Stravinsky who was the “greatest” composer of the 20^th century? I repeat that I am far from sure that the 20^th century produced any “great” music, but in my view Shostakovich deserves recognition — a little belated in arriving — as the major composer of the last century.