Dimitri Shostakovich Autograph

Profession:
(1906-1975) Russian composer and pianist - he is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century.

Year of Birth: 1906

Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Russian composer and pianist. He was born in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1906. He was one of the most celebrated composers of the twentieth century, and his works remain popular today. Shostakovich's works include fifteen symphonies, fifteen string quartets, seven concerti, five piano trios, two operas, several song cycles, and a variety of film scores. He also wrote pieces for the piano, chamber music, and orchestral arrangements.

Shostakovich began playing the piano at the age of nine and wrote his first symphony at the age of nineteen. He was accepted into the Petrograd Conservatory and graduated in 1925. He quickly became a popular composer in the Soviet Union and his works were praised by Stalin, who saw them as a symbol of Soviet patriotism. After Stalin's death, Shostakovich's music came under attack from Soviet officials and was banned in many parts of the Soviet Union.

Shostakovich wrote his most famous works during the 1950s and 1960s. This period saw the composition of his Symphony No. 5 and Symphony No. 10, as well as his two operas, Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District and The Nose. His later works include the Symphony No. 15 and the Fifteenth String Quartet. He also wrote a number of vocal works, including his Symphony No. 14, which he wrote for his wife, Nina. Shostakovich died in 1975.

Shostakovich's music has been praised for its emotional intensity, technical skill, and its ability to express the sorrows and struggles of the Soviet people. His music is often characterized as being melodic, melancholic, and sometimes defiant. His music has been performed by some of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Shostakovich's music has been the subject of numerous books and films, including his autobiography Testimony, which was published in 1979. He has also been the subject of biographies by authors such as Solomon Volkov and Laurel Fay. His music has been featured in dozens of films, including the Oscar-winning The Exorcist and the Academy Award-winning Amadeus.

Shostakovich's music continues to be performed and recorded around the world. He is remembered as one of the most important and influential composers of the twentieth century. His works continue to inspire musicians and audiences alike.