Dmitri Shostakovich News

Orange County, Calif.—Dec. 3, 2013—One of Russia's most fascinating and complex composers—Dmitri Shostakovich—goes under the magnifying glass when Pacific Symphony partners with Chapman University's Global Arts Program to present “Decoding Shostakovich,” a festival dedicated to the iconic composer, whose life unfolded under the Soviet system. There are myriad reasons for a festival devoted to this fascinating man, beginning with the tremendous impact he had on classical music in Russia and beyond. Through classical concerts and a wide array of presentations (discussions, film, dance, lecture, piano recital, theater, symposium, book club and master classes), “Decoding Shostakovich” probes deeply into the man to reveal the composer's relationship to his home country, its culture and politics and the effects these had on his music. The festival, which began in November, continues into February 2014. For more information about “Decoding Shostakovich,” visit: http://www.pacificsymphony.org/shostakovich_festival. (See the complete festival schedule below.)

Nigel Redden, director of the Lincoln Center Festival, and Rebecca Robertson, President and Executive Producer, Park Avenue Armory, today announced that the two organizations will co-present The Passenger, Mieczyslaw Weinberg's uncompromising 1968 opera about the Holocaust, performed by Houston Grand Opera and directed by David Pountney, in its New York premiere performances July 10, 12 and 13 at Lincoln Center Festival 2014. Pountney's production will have its U.S. premiere on January 18, 2014 at Houston Grand Opera.

Rare photographs of Benjamin Britten including family and personal snapshots from his boyhood and professional life, are included from today in a new display at the National Portrait Gallery, ahead of the composer's centenary this weekend.

Two thrilling musical forces will share the stage tonight, November 12 to launch Segerstrom Center's 2013 - 2014 Chamber Music Series as pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin joins the acclaimed Pacifica Quartet - Simin Ganatra, violin; Sibbi Bernhardsson, violin; Masumi Per Rostad, viola; Brandon Vamos, cello - for a spectacular program featuring Dmitri Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 7 in F minor, Op. 108 and Antonin Dvorak's Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81. The evening also includes Leo Ornstein's innovative Piano Quintet, Op. 92.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College started off its 2013-2014 season with the bang of Savion Glover's tap shoes. The venue hosted a performance of Savion Glover's STePz on November 2nd. In the program, Glover listed himself simply as "hoofer, father, husband." Nevertheless, it is undeniable that Glover is a living icon. Glover first appeared on Broadway at the age of 12 in The Tap Dance Kid. By his early 20s, Glover was nominated for a Tony Award for his choreography Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk. Many millenials grew up watching Glover as a featured performer on Sesame Street and today's children see him as the man behind the tap-dancing penguin in Happy Feet.

Acclaimed artist William Kentridge is known for his surreal animated films, works of art that always include a strong political dimension. He turned out be the perfect director for Metropolitan Opera production of Dmitri Shostakovich's surreal, political opera, The Nose.

Marking a major collaboration between two leading U.S. museums, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) announced today the joint acquisition of South African artist William Kentridge's major multimedia installation The Refusal of Time (2012).

Marking a major collaboration between two leading U.S. museums, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) announced today the joint acquisition of South African artist William Kentridge's major multimedia installation The Refusal of Time (2012).

Marking a major collaboration between two leading U.S. museums, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) announced today the joint acquisition of South African artist William Kentridge's major multimedia installation The Refusal of Time (2012).

Check out photos below from THE MET: LIVE IN HD's production of THE NOSE by Dmitri Shostakovich, hosted by Patricia Racette.

Acclaimed artist William Kentridge is known for his surreal animated films, works of art that always include a strong political dimension. He turned out be the perfect director for Metropolitan Opera production of Dmitri Shostakovich's surreal, political opera, The Nose.

Two thrilling musical forces will share the stage on November 12 to launch Segerstrom Center's 2013 - 2014 Chamber Music Series as pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin joins the acclaimed Pacifica Quartet - Simin Ganatra, violin; Sibbi Bernhardsson, violin; Masumi Per Rostad, viola; Brandon Vamos, cello - for a spectacular program featuring Dmitri Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 7 in F minor, Op. 108 and Antonin Dvorak's Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81. The evening also includes Leo Ornstein's innovative Piano Quintet, Op. 92.

Renowned conductor Gerard Schwarz and his hand-picked team of musicians come together to form a made-for-television classical music concert series

On Sunday, Oct. 6, the Oakland Symphony Orchestra (OSO) will open its 2013-14 season with moving performances of major works by Benjamin Britten, Johannes Brahms and Dmitri Shostakovich.

Renowned conductor Gerard Schwarz and his hand-picked team of musicians come together to form a made-for-television classical music concert series

Renowned conductor Gerard Schwarz and his hand-picked team of 'all-star' classical musicians from across the United States come together to form a new made-for-television concert series.All-Star Orchestra premieres nationwide in September on public television (check local listings), and airs in New York today, September 8, 2013 at 12:30 p.m. on THIRTEEN and continues for seven consecutive weeks. Maestro Schwarz has taken a page from Major League Baseball's playbook, creating a team of the finest orchestral athletes from top orchestras in the United States. Featuring exceptional performances of the greatest works from the classical repertoire in an accessible format, All-Star Orchestra aims to expose a broad audience of classical music neophytes and connoisseurs to the wonder of classical music.

Carnegie Hall celebrates the 60th birthday of acclaimed conductor Valery Gergiev with three October concerts in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage by the Mariinsky Orchestra, each focusing on the music of a different Russian composer-Stravinsky, Shostakovich, and Rachmaninoff-with repertoire closely associated with Maestro Gergiev, who is also celebrating 25 years with St. Petersburg's legendary Mariinsky Theatre.

Renowned conductor Gerard Schwarz and his hand-picked team of top orchestral musicians from across the United States come together to form a made-for-television classical music concert seriespremiering on THIRTEEN on Sunday, September 8, 2013 at 12:30 p.m. The All-Star Orchestra, similar to Major League Baseball's All-Star team, is composed of the finest orchestral 'athletes' from leading orchestras across the country. Featuring exceptional performances of symphonic masterpieces and contemporary works, The All-Star Orchestra seeks to expose broad audiences to classical music through a format that is both informative and accessible.Naxos of America, the #1 independent classical music distributor in the U.S. and Canada, will release this unique series on DVD on September 24, 2013.