Dmitri Shostakovich September 25, August 9, 1975 Born in St. Petersburg, Russia Family very liberal Child prodigy (piano and comp) Age 13- entered St. Petersburg Conservatory –Academically successful –Suffered for lack of political enthusiasm –First Symphony written as graduation piece Post Graduation-career as concert pianist and composer.

Dmitri Shostakovich September 25, August 9, 1975 Competed in Chopin competition –Met Bruno Walter Concentrated on composition –Limited performances to his own works The Nose –Called “Formalist” by the Russian Association of Proletarian Musicians or RAPM called –Formalism: “any art which used complex techniques and forms accessible only to the elite, rather than being simplified for ‘the people’“

Dmitri Shostakovich September 25, August 9, met Ivan Sollertinsky –Influenced musical tastes open marriage to first wife 1930’s- worked for theatre company –Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District Early success 1936-Series of attacks in Pravda –Muddle Instead of Music No commission= no $$$ –Responded with Symphony No. 5

Dmitri Shostakovich September 25, August 9, “The Great Terror” Symphonies=public Chamber=private (experimental, expressive) Taught at Conservatory, distracting 1941-WW2 (St. Petersburg=Leningrad) –Shosty in Leningrad during seige –Began Symphony. No 7 “Leningrad” (heroic) Moved to Moscow –8 th Symphony- Somber and violent (banned) –9 th Symphony- Neoclassic parody

Dmitri Shostakovich September 25, August 9, 1975 Second Piano Trio –Dedicated to Sollertinsky –Totentanz finale Denounced again –Privileges taken away –Most works banned –Public repentance 1960-Joined the Communist Party 13 th Symphony- Set Jewish poetry Late works show preoccupation of death Died of lung cancer

Sergei Prokofiev April 27, March 5,1953 Born in Ukraine Intelligent from early age moved to St. Petersburg to study Studied with Rimsky-Korsakov 1910-Father passed, funding ceased 1911-contract with publisher, travel to Paris (Ballet Russe), London 1917 Symphony No. 1 “Classical”

Sergei Prokofiev April 27, March 5, Political unrest led him to USA –Compared to Rachmaninov, concert career Went to Paris because of finances 1935-Returned to Soviet Union After the war, accused of formalism Works cancelled and health declined, he withdrew into himself. Died the same day as Stalin