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Greenberg Lecture Series with Afiara String Quartet - Dmitri Shostakovich: The Thaw

Montalvo Arts Center

May 18, 2008

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Shostakovich's musical career mirrored the rise and history of the then Soviet Union from 1917-1975. His career started with Lenin's rule; he knew Stalin personally and was nearly purged twice; he survived the siege of Leningrad, argued with Khrushchev, and died during Breshnev’s tenure. Shostakovich survived because the government considered him a "yurodivy," a village idiot, a holy fool, by Russian tradition one of the chosen few allowed to speak out. He composed music that pleased the state and music that infuriated the state. Through it all, his mind remained his own. Join us as we discover the secret inspiration behind the music of Shostakovich.

In this session we learn how Stalin’s death in 1953 allowed for an increasingly liberal and less repressive environment, and Shostakovich released a tremendous amount of work that he kept silent during Stalin’s control. He became an icon, and by the time Brezhnev was in power, Shostakovich was left alone to compose his inward-looking music. Session Four explores the trauma caused by Shostakovich joining the Communist Party in 1960, and the inward-looking music that Shostakovich produced in post-Stalin USSR.

Greenberg is accompanied by Afiara String Quartet, who will perform Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 8.

For over 20 years, Robert Greenberg has presented his music lecture series in concert halls, universities, and boardrooms nationally. An accomplished composer with over 45 works to his name, Greenberg has also recorded best-selling audio courses for the acclaimed Teaching Company.

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  Tickets: $12.50-$25
  $100 (whole series)

  Info Phone: 408-961-5858

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• Dates & Times

  Dates:
  May 18, 2008

  Times:
  2pm

• Venue Info

  Montalvo Arts Center

  15400 Montalvo Road Saratoga, CA 95070

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