SHOSTAKOVICH NIGHT

Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975) is one of the most prominent composers of twentieth-century Russian music, his life and works are full of controversy. He lived and worked at a time when in his country, communist ideology considered art to be a weapon of power, and therefore did not respect creative freedom, but dictated what kind of art the people need. Shostakovich was born in St Petersburg and completed his studies at the Leningrad Conservatory. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he did not leave the Soviet Union, where he enjoyed both spectacular success and harsh criticism. He was forced to withdraw several of his works, but at the same time, he was repeatedly awarded the highest state prizes. He was a dear friend of conductor Thomas Sanderling, but also had a close professional relationship with him, conducting the premieres of several of his major works. Each piece in our concert has a special significance because all are premieres in Hungary. We welcome to the podium world-famous Gustav Rivinius as solo cellist, who is also a professor at the Hochschule für Musik Saar and the Conservatorium Maastricht.