Dmitry Shostakovich-About Himself and His Times

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 In the Columned Hall of the Trade Union House recently, the Radio Orchestra conducted by Samuil Samosud gave the first performance of Prokofiev’s Seventh Symphony. Unfortunately I did not manage to attend any of the rehearsals or study the score of the work before its public performance. Consequently I shall not try to make a serious analysis of the work here, but merely give a few impressions of its first performance. / The symphony is a great success for Prokofiev. It is cheerful and lyrical, and its clear, light content and fresh, harmonious language are a sheer delight. Once again, the work reveals Prokofiev’s wonderful talent for melody. Here, the melodies flow freely and naturally, vividly expressing the composer’s thoughts. Another of the work’s great merits is the fact it holds the listener’s interest from beginning to end – and not to cheap effects but by the vigour of its musical idiom…

In the Columned Hall of the Trade Union House recently, the Radio Orchestra conducted by Samuil Samosud gave the first performance of Prokofiev’s Seventh Symphony. Unfortunately I did not manage to attend any of the rehearsals or study the score of the work before its public performance. Consequently I shall not try to make a serious analysis of the work here, but merely give a few impressions of its first performance. / The symphony is a great success for Prokofiev. It is cheerful and lyrical, and its clear, light content and fresh, harmonious language are a sheer delight. Once again, the work reveals Prokofiev’s wonderful talent for melody. Here, the melodies flow freely and naturally, vividly expressing the composer’s thoughts. Another of the work’s great merits is the fact it holds the listener’s interest from beginning to end – and not to cheap effects but by the vigour of its musical idiom…

excerpt from 'Dmitry Shostakovich-About Himself and His Times' pp. 142 (162 words)

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1451772287671