Kluxen - Shostakovich Leningrad Symphony

Shostakovich’s monumental Seventh Symphony was composed in 1942 during the brutal Nazi siege of Leningrad, as the composer refused evacuation and wrote from the besieged city. Its historic performance by the starving musicians of Leningrad, broadcast across the city, became a symbol of defiance against totalitarianism. Later smuggled to New York, the work caused a sensation under Toscanini. Scored for a very large orchestra, this multi-layered symphony questions whether Shostakovich’s dedication refers to the city besieged by the Nazis or the one he reportedly said “Stalin destroyed and Hitler simply finished off.” What remains clear is its powerful portrayal of fascism and the triumph of the human spirit.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Concert duration: Approx. 75 minutes without intermission.

Pre-Concert Chat: Please join us at 1:40 pm in the west lobby for a pre-concert chat featuring Music Director Christian Kluxen and VS CEO Matthew White.