Shostakovich's piano concertos are rarely separated. The first dates from 1933. With its witty humor, it is reminiscent of silent film music: the composer once earned his living as a cinema pianist. The neoclassical second from 1957, on the other hand, seems out of date. "I have finished a piano concerto that has no value whatsoever," judged the Russian. But like so many things, these words should not be taken too lightly: Shostakovich composed the work for his son, who he did not want to prevent from seeing it. To open the Shostakovich Days, Marie Jacquot combines the Janus-faced pair with Kurt Weill's 2nd Symphony, which was premiered in exile in Paris in 1934.

Special concert on the eve of the International Shostakovich Days Gohrisch

Kulturpalast Dresden

Shostakovich’s two piano concertos are worlds apart. The lively humour of the first, which dates back to 1933, is reminiscent of music for the silent screen; indeed, the composer had once earned his living as a cinema pianist. The neoclassical second from 1957, on the other hand, seems unrooted in time. The composer’s own view was merciless: »I have finished a piano concerto that has no redeeming artistic merits«. Yet perhaps his words should be taken with a pinch of salt: Shostakovich composed the work for his son, and he did not hinder him from performing it. To help launch the Shostakovich Festival, Marie Jacquot is combining this Janus-faced pair of works with Kurt Weill’s Symphony No. 2, which premiered in Paris in 1934, the year in which the composer fled Nazi Germany.

Helmut Fuchs

Events

Past events

Jun 25, 2025

Special concert on the eve of the International Shostakovich Days Gohrisch · Semperoper Dresden

Jun 25, 2025

Special Concert International Shostakovich Festival Gohrisch · Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden

Future and recently performed repertoire

Trumpet in Piano Concerto No. 1 by Shostakovich

Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden

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