In the 1930s, large parts of Europe were dominated by totalitarian rulers: Mussolini in Italy, Horthy in Hungary, Franco in Spain, Hitler in Germany and "annexed" Austria - all of them suppressed any form of opposition and dissenting opinion. These strongly nationalistic regimes also found their equivalent on the other side of the political spectrum, namely in the Soviet Union under the leadership of Joseph Stalin. His vast empire was characterized by a relentless terror that knew no borders. Countless people - including many critical intellectuals and artists - fell victim to his regime. They acted in the shadow of his power - including the two composers Dmitri Shostakovich and Mieczysław Weinberg. In their music they combine not only masterful craftsmanship and artistic genius, but also the echo of their time, the suffering and the hope of an entire oppressed generation. As a Pole of Jewish descent, Weinberg's fate was almost hopeless - he had to flee from the Nazis, married into an influential Moscow family, but was repeatedly caught in the wheels of Stalin's terror. His works reflect the grief and resilience of his people, who were ravaged by the horror of the Holocaust. Weinberg's music interweaves the painful memories of loss and suffering with an unshakable human dignity that captivates and shakes the listener at the same time. Weinberg was artistically supported by his mentor Dmitri Shostakovich, which led to a lifelong friendship, a bond that - given a similar fate - could possibly be described as a soul mate. Shostakovich, whose biography was shaped by the terrible atrocities of the Stalin era, found a way to proclaim unspoken truths in his musical language. His symphonies are like cries of the soul, yearning for freedom and seeking justice in a world of repression. He dared to push the boundaries of what was permissible in his works, yet always found a way to convey his message of humanity and hope. The dialogue between Weinberg and Shostakovich reveals not only the horror of their lives, but also the infinitely profound power of art, which provides a spark of light even in the darkest hours of human destiny. 

Linus Roth

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Oct 3, 2024

A1 Weinberg and Shostakovich – In the shadow of power · Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha-Eisenach

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