Stalin

Shostakovich Against Stalin video
SKIP 20:30-21:00, 22:15-23:00

"ART DESTROYS SILENCE"

Dmitri Shostakovich composed in an environment which was extremely hostile toward artists—especially those that were innovative. Shostakovich was denounced by the Soviet government and had to be cautious with his compositions. If the government disapproved of his work, they could have killed him, as they did other artists. Shostakovich obviously had to keep his opinions to himself for fear of being killed. Although he had to keep his unfavorable views of the Soviet government private, he found ways to make bold, rebellious statements through his music. 
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Shostakovich wrote an opera, "Lady Macbeth of Mtsenk," and Stalin went to see it. He arrived in good spirits, but his pleasure quickly turned to anger as he listened to the show.  

The story of the opera is about a woman who is married to a horrible dictator.  She can't divorce him, so she murders him instead!  Stalin had several reasons for disliking the content of the show, a big one being that he himself was a hateful dictator and didn't want people getting ideas!  

Stalin got his revenge on Shostakovich by writing a terrible review about the show and having it printed in the newspaper anonymously.  Even though he didn't sign his name, the people of Soviet Union understood perfectly that it represented the government's disapproval of Shostakovich and his music.  They took their cue from Stalin and started to avoid Shostakovich.

Life continued to go downhill for Shostakovich and his music, as he had fallen from favor with the government.  He hated the horrible atrocities happening all around him, the deaths, the bullying, and the torture.  Shostakovich fought back by writing music that secretly expressed his feelings for the people Russia had lost to Stalin's cruel reign.  Everyone was terrified to do anything that might draw attention to themselves, therefore getting themselves into trouble with the government.  They hated the turmoil around them, too, but they were silent.  Shostakovich said, "Art destroys silence."