Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10

BOX OFFICE OPENING – SEASON 2026_2027

June 18 to 21: exclusively for CCB Card holders

From June 22 onwards: general public

Shostakovich composed a total of 15 symphonies, some of truly monumental dimensions. His musical output inevitably intersects with the historical context of the Soviet Union. In 1948, he was censored, like other composers, for writing music deemed "formalist".

Although there is debate about the work's genesis, Shostakovich is believed to have embraced the idea of composing this symphony after Josef Stalin's death in March 1953, although without an explicit programme. The work does not fail to suggest the event in a somewhat unusual way. However, as in other works by the composer, the references also point to an inner world of great richness, passing through dark moments and others that are emotional and intense. The four movements present a marked character, with distinct characteristics that allow Shostakovich to explore different musical references, such as the DSCH motif associated with his name, present in several movements and conferring a sense of unity to the work. The premiere took place on December 17, 1953, in Leningrad, by the Philharmonic Orchestra of that city, under the direction of Evgeni Mravinski.

Pre-concert talk 30 minutes before.

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