Schostakowitsch-Symposium

Munich Philharmonic, Germany

The 15 symphonies of Dimitri Shostakovich count among the key works of 20th century music – not only within the genre of the symphony that has seen a dramatic change in significance and function, but perhaps also in terms of their legacy to the musical Modern Age. The “short” and “dark” century has been interpreted many times as an era of catastrophe and breakdown in bourgeois values. Music of this era was particularly impacted by this, as it could do nothing more than express a helpless reaction to political and social devastation. The complete performance of all Shostakovich’s symphonies in Munich under the baton of Valery Gergiev with the Kirov Orchestra and the Munich Philharmonic offers a unique opportunity to experience this powerful oeuvre in its entirety – one that spans the period of political avant-garde in the young Soviet Union via the famous War Symphonies Nos. 7-9 and the revenge on Stalin through to the start of east-west détente.
The Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation is supporting this symposium to be held by the Munich Philharmonic in cooperation with Munich’s music academy Musikhochschule München and its music studies institute Musikwissenschaftlichen Institut der LMU München. The event will focus on questions as to the rank, specificity and position of Shostakovich’s symphonies. It will be a cross-discipline exchange of ideas by music and cultural historians and Slavists which, through its reflections on the historic constellations, will provide insight into the present and future impact of this work. 


March 23rd –25th 2012
Münchner Philharmonie

Further Information:
www.mphil.de

 

Pfeil