Litton's Shostakovich

Litton's Shostakovich

Grieghallen

Shostakovich described his Symphony No 8, written in 1943, as ‘an attempt to reflect the terrible tragedy of war.’

That was the official line. In reality, Shostakovich’s Eighth was a Requiem for all those who had suffered not just at the hand of the Nazis, but under the ruthless regime of the dictator Josef Stalin. The music reveals ugly truths with its mock grandeur and relentless claustrophobia. When the symphony finally discovers the ‘warm’ key of C major, it feels less like a victory and more like a lucky escape.