Close up Shostakovich - A Portrait of the Russian Composer (Documentary, 2006)
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- Опубликовано: 22 сен 2017
- Humour, sarcasm, grotesqueness - and not least an overriding pessimism - are characteristics not only found in Shostakovich himself but also in his music. The film intends to be as authentic as possible in portraying the composer, neither denouncing him as an opportunist nor praising him as a dissident. The seven chapters rather try to reconstruct how the young star composer, who renouncing the traditional was known for his grotesque distortions, became the stiff state composer most of whose life is still shrouded in mystery.
A film by Oliver Becker and Katharina Bruner
Watch more videos about Dmitri Schostakowitsch and other russian composers: goo.gl/CUiHpg
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Ah, excellent, good to see this uploaded in full, and in decent quality.
My second favourite composer after Prokofiev... and it's close. In many ways I prefer Shostakovich's body of work and his overall style, but some of Prokofiev's pieces are just on another level altogether.
Да всё здесь очень просто. Он жил и творил в очень трудное для государства время, он так видел свое государство в общем и всю нашу жизнь в частности. Его музыка была настолько образна, что, даже не зная, о чем она была, по ней можно было сложить своё впечатление или придумать сюжет (естественно, что только для тех, кто родился в этой стране и понял и принял её суть), связанный с так называемым в ваших странах "кровавым советским режимом". А Прокофьев прошел ту же школу, что и Шостакович, поэтому часто их музыка схожа между собой.
I have the same reaction. Shostakovich has a heft and emotional freight that no other composer of the period matches, but some of Prokofiev can bring me to tears by its sheer beauty. (cf Violin Concerto 1)
Prokofiev and Shostakovich were best friends
for the same reason, I prefer Shostakovich to Prokofiev. Shostakovich symphonies and string quartets are in another level.
much greater than Prokofiev.
Yes, Prokofiev was the greater composer, but it’s ok! Shostakovich was great!
Hearing Dimitri play his own first Piano Concerto is a revelation!
First: he is playing it faster than anyone else I have heard.
Actually, he was quite a virtuoso and could handle the intricacies of technique of this piece.
Second: the orchestra is accompaniment only. The piano is the featured performer!
Even the trumpet is support for the piano.
Again, Dimitri's artistry makes the piano "sing."
Nice to see the young, lively Shostakovich. We're so used to images of the older, seemingly tortured soul behind bottle-thick lenses.
OMG HIS SMILE IS SO PRECIOUS!!!!
Yes!!!! It seems so rare to see a smile In most film from the time. I love him so much!!!
What a brilliant Mastermind he was and still is, no composer has inspired me more, those haunting melodies and aggresive arrangments.
How can you not love docs about these brilliant Russians.
What a powerful documentary... I am moved to tears. May his soul rest in peace.
So fascinating to hear Shostakovich's voice!
OMG MY VIDEO JUST STARTED SO I'M SO EXCITED TO HERAR IT!!!!!
I JUST HEARD IT!!! IT'S SOOOOOOO ADORABLE!!!!!
He was the composer of a film you never needed to see to know. It genuinely feels like the most epic of soundtracks, so convincingly that it paints the images for you within your very mind, body and soul. He'll always be my favorite. From the very first time i heard him.
Really great video! I was 14 when Andre Previn used some of Shostakovich's 5th and 8th symphonies in the movie "Rollerball" 1976. This was my introduction to symphonies and a whole career. I would've died to hear the slow mvmt of the 5th in the video. Guess I'll have to pull out my fave.
He is so deep. Its goes to my soul. Just one of the great. Genius
Sir Michael Tippett once said that in his opinion the two greatest composers of the 20th century were Britten and Shostakovich. Interesting, both composers greatly admired one another greatly. The latter was very impressed by Britten's 'War Requiem' for example.
I really wish they'd cover the viola sonata, but frankly, this documentary is a hidden gem. Bravo!
Amazing composer, amazing man... courageous and compassionate, risking his life to save people from the regime..
his compassions are deep and meaningful.. Babi Jar, Leningrad Symphony, songs on Jewish themes. Love his ballets showing life in Soviet Union,
making fun of regime and showing the tragic side of it.. Bright Stream, Lady and a Hooligan, Bolt and others.
4:42 wrong ; he composed his first piano concerto at the age of 27. The piece he wrote at 19 was his first symphony.
They are correct, I think you just misheard 2 sentences and strung them together.
Much moved by the primary sources of information from his wife, daughter and son. The rest is just opinions, especially the bureaucrat. Excellent film!
Description: The film intends to be as authentic as possible
*Volkov shows up*
@@nicolasvasquez8553 His work, *Testimony*, is very much at the forefront of the Shostakovich debate, very much representing the revisionist view that he secretly despised the regime. This work is extremely controversial and many of Volkov's claims are dubious and unlikely, and the documents that are substantiated by at least Shostakovich's signature are mostly entirely uncontroversial. It's not that Shostakovich was definitely loyal to the Soviet regime, but Volkov's work shouldn't be taken as truth much of the time and more as guidance.
@@narayana8249 Maxim shostakovich approved a lot of it:)
Can you imagine: he heard all of this in his head? (And soul)
Yes, I can.
I love this wonderfully dangerous music.
Finally found my project topic
Despite some of the ambiguity expressed in this film it is nevertheless a powerful presentation. The context to Shostakovich's work is important and the pain he must have suffered throughout his life. But to see the live footage and to hear from his own family is fantastic - also the performances of his work by the chambermusic players whose work is startlingly good. An emotional film indeed.
Thanks for uplaoding!
Wonderfully and studiously done I am new to his work. An insightful and great assistance for an informed roadmap
I wish I could hear his stuff for the first time, everyday haha
I had known his grandson Dimitri and often wonder where he is now. He was a student at Juilliard at the time.
Thank you for uploading!
Wonderful. Thanks for this.
I have a (tiny) quibble. The (very important) motto is DSCH (D-Eb-C-B) not DECH which is not only incorrect but only makes sense in German. But an interesting documentary.
Great documentary!
UN HEROE TREMENDO MUSICO Y SER HUMANO
It is surprising (to me) that someone who looks meek and mild could compose such powerful music
Same with Anton Bruckner!
@@jeanparke9373 It is funny that you mention him as although I knew of him of course I am not familiar with his music and then yesterday he popped up on my RUclips list/comments etc. Spooky!
@@georgealderson4424 well then, welcome to the club! Enjoy the world of the greatest Symphonies
@@jeanparke9373 Thanks. Are they easy to listen too or discordant?
@@georgealderson4424 Bruckner's music is way more tonal then Shostakovich's. More religious as well. Imagine a mild, toned-down version of Wagner. Start with his Symphony No.7. And then go on to Nos.4,6,8 and the rest.
I think Shostakovich himself would be shocked that both his 1st Cello Concerto and Slava Rostropovich are absent from this powerful yet flawed documentary. I admit that Slava brought me to Dmitri rather than the other way ‘round. I remember reading (or perhaps hearing) that Rostropovich said that he thought of himself as a composer until he met Shostakovich. I am not qualified to judge who was the more important composer of the 20th Century, Shostakovich or Prokofiev, but since I was born in 1960, I can say with confidence that Dmitri was the most important composer of my lifetime (so far).
now i understand the pain and disappointment in his music more profoundly...
pinhancani Pain and disappointment that I've found much resonance in during coronavirus time in the United States.
Fascinating
He is my second favourite after Tchaiskovsky . I hàve many of his compositions on record and cd . He would have done more except for Stalin's thugs watching his every move . Stalin's message to Shostokovish was " watch out ! "
Still so impressive !
It seems overkill to accuse the Soviets of "using [his] music for propaganda" when one is talking about the war against Hitler. Would one have had it otherwise? Is the movie implying that Shostakovich was insincere in his hatred for the Nazis? Granted, that he subject of Stalinist politics and Shostakovich are inextricably linked, but to what extent is the movie about Stalin's reign of terror rather than its purported subject?
The astonishing thing about his 5th Symphony is that it could so easily have been trite, obedient, hollowed out music (like those painfully forgettable film scores he did in the late 1940s). Instead he produces an extraordinarily rich and meaningful masterpiece, written through with fear and hope and survival - and sheer love of life.
GREAT FILM !!
Amazing, yet, such an unassuming demeanor...
ASTOUNDING DOCUMENTARY!
Rip Shostakovich :(
Would've liked more about the composer's personal life.
thanks
he was a brilliant pianist, other than being an exceptional composer. you might say if he was in west he would do this or that better... but Artist work perfects is misery, censorship, and dictatorship and poverty (all that in communist Russia). if he lived in U.S or Britain, he would never be so great.
absolutely correct
unfortunately it's true.
да здравствует музыка шостаковича
2:20 what is this tune?
Holy smokes
really good :) side note...who thinks Edward Norton could play him if they did a film about him? :)
31:57 The siege of Leningrad
What is the first piece called?
It's the third movement of his 10th Symphony. Around 7 - 8 minutes into the movement.
Immediately started with loaded language: "Regime..." One can guess how accurate and unbiased this video would be. No thanks.
which symphony is this 1:23 ?
His 10th
What piece is this?
33:25
It's shostakovich symphony no.7 1st movement
What is the Tune at 00:00
*Beginning piece?*
Symphony No. 10, 3rd movement
Wait, we know he’s not most important composer of the 20th century because Prokofiev is the greatest and most important composer of the 20th century.
Now that I’ve said my piece I’ll sit back and enjoy the documentary. 😇
This would be a good documentary, if Volkov had nothing to do with it
Why be negative about the man who made “Testimony...” happen. DSHS would chuck such pettiness aside.
Triton Fryar what specifically is wrong with Volkov?
25:48 Tatjana Nikolaeva??
Speaking of Shostakovich's life being shrouded in mystery, I can't find how tall he was. It almost makes me wonder if Stalin kept that a state secret. ..... If anyone can link me to a source that says how tall he was, I would be grateful.
I thought I was the only person who had wondered that. I know there are a few mentions of him as being on the "small" side, but I also believe that may have partially been the fact that he was downright thin in his early years and looked younger than he was probably into his 50s. Looking at him in photos he comes off as "average", but that still doesn't really answer anything.
@@marymaddox2775 Disney was 1.78 m so maybe Shostakovich was 1.73-1.75 m (?). His growth was probably stunted because he suffered a lot of hardship as a kid after his father died. He probably didn’t have much to eat, neither did many others in the USSR even during the early days after the revolution.
Symphony #8, opus 65 is a masterpiece! If you listen to this and not react you may want to check into a hospital.
We're impressed with your level of culture.
Shosty 11 symph is the best
You know that you have to stop watching when Volkov is introduced immediately in this portrait. Volkovs testimony has been profoundly and devastatingly revealed as an ugly falsification and I can't believe his falsification is still refered to and I can't believe Volkov is still used as a source of information when Shostakovichs name is on the line. Volkov has done lots of harm to science and the genre of bibliografy. Volkov must always be refered to as someone who wrote a fiction about an interesting composer based on stories wandering around in the society, some of them true and most of it distorted or/and made up, on top of that you have Volkovs own imagination and fantasies. Volkovs testimony can be read but only as a fiction where everything must always be taken with lots of salt.
I have been reading articles and yes this film seems very pointed to Volkov's point of view, but the footage of Shostakovich himself playing and his son conducting and interviews, etc. are fascinating. hearing the compositions' excerpts also very edifying, but I am taking all the commentary with a grain of salt for certain.
Also, Volkov puts too much of his own simplistic opinions into the commentary! It's a disservice I think. I am glad I read the articles I did before watching this film.
zocker bit you are entitled to your opinion but hate speech directed against the editor of Shostakovich's memoirs to whom the world owes a great debt of gratitude is a shameful act, even more so when you constantly pretend and imply that everyone shares your same hate.
You commentary is many empty words -unless you have sources, which you don’t mention.
@@makijji Read A Shostakovich Casebook and see if you still find Volkov credible. Btw, there is virtually no musicologist that finds Volkov credible.
0:20 "enemy of the people" - what a false statement! Criticized, yes but that's another and not so serious matter.
But Shostakovich was indeed called an enemy of the people, and it was in 1936, when persecution began over "Lady Macbeth", that one of the Kiev newspapers trumpeted in the headlines: "The Enemy of the People - Shostakovich Is Coming to Us.
I think it's ignorant to dismiss the facts of Dmitri Dmitrievich's suffering
This is a superficial and stylistically self-indulgent mess by Becker which clearly draws on the Volkov scam, supposedly based on conversations with the composer.
Becker applies a dark palette even when footage used was not dark originally and he flogs the dead horse of Stalin vs Shostakovich when the truth is that the composer detested the cult of personality, especially in bureaucracies. Of course Stalin was an uncultured dictator known for liquidating perceived enemies but the music of a genius of this stature is beyond that.
If Becker wanted to make a documentary on Shostakovich so long after his death he should have found ways of compressing the usual political stuff to one or two interviewees and got on with addressing the actual music and why Shostakovich chose unusual sources and could be writing several works for different purposes simultaneously.
William Walton was never one to give praise but told Henze that the greatest composer of the 20th century was Shostakovich, even though he personally disliked many of the works for wasting instruments up to the 8th symphony. Then when Walton heard the 4th which had been locked away for decades he conceded that the orchestral mastery he admired in the 10th and 14th (dedicated to Britten) then finally the15th had been there trapped inside the 4th. He opined that Shostakovich seemed to have anticipated much of what was to come in European and American music. Walton (a string concerto man by instinct) also felt that Shostakovich had changed the concerto premise forever as much as Stravinsky if not more and had added to the great string quartet canon of Beethoven and Bartok from # 5 onward.
Thus Mr Becker's film might as well not have been made. He clearly does not know the music well enough nor important biographical details nothing to do with the USSR but which were important to the music -- including association with foreign composers and other musicians in the late-1950s to the deterioration of his health in the 3 years up to his death in 1975.
The impression of a genius composing in this or that cramped apartment in Moscow or Leningrad while a Le Carré gloom pervaded all like a fog is just nonsense. He was an active football umpire (a sort of deciding referee) for years, kept gardens when he could and had a wide circle of friends of all ages.
He was not a stiff state composer, you make him sound like a communist. He was far from it and just the opposite.
Que "documental" mas manipulador no dicen una sola palabra contra el NACISMO!! Ni una sola Critica a esa masacre feroz . A
This is a focus on communism because the composer was russian and felt oppressed by his own regime.
He's not communist!
He did join the Party eventually.
@@gabbyhyman1246 That's as likely to have been prudence as it was political conviction. In Stalin's Russia, if you'd been a high-profile public figure as Shostakovich was, would you have refused to join?
The automiton "Stalin" around 40 or so looks like absurd children's color book creation. Such nonsence
I know it is out of the topic, but if Russians were so full of culture at the time of Shostakovitch - why they had slaughtered 20k Polish war prisoners in April and May 1940 in Katyn, Starobielsk, Koziels, Ostaszkow? Катынская резня не истекает. мы всегда будем помнить.
Bogdan Ski That was Stalin’s revanche against the Polish officer’s corp. In 1920, the young Soviet power had lost a war against Poland and was badly defeated. Stalin served as political commissar at the south-western front at the time. He waited 20 years for his bloody revanche.
"full of culture" and killing people are two different conversations. It is illogical to assume one influences the other.
Around 15:00 on would probably be a preview of life under Trump during a second term.
Clown comment award 👏🏻 Congrats. Your IQ is officially personified by your last name.
@@MattBaker789 Hopefully not. At least I’ve got enough brainpower to save and invest correctly enough that I can spend my retirement years elsewhere. 👋👋
That's hysterical nonsense.
@@plekkchand I’m not so confident about that. It’s a core reason that, since I no longer feel at home in the country of my birth, I’m spending my retirement years elsewhere.
Shostakovich was an opportunist. Change my mind
The ignorance of many comments here is astounding.
Read Galina Vishnevsaya’s autobiography for an insight into the real man.
Other recollections of his colleagues like the pianist Tatiana Nikoleyva are essential.
The Trump comments here are laughable(I am no fan,btw,he’s a weak narcissist and controlled op) considering the current soft totalitarianism under the puppet Brandon.