I love Colin Carr's playing! However, there is some misinformation in this masterclass... The student is correct; this sonata was written in 1934 while Shostakovich was separated from his wife Nina who had discovered Shostakovich's affair with a young interpreter. Lady Macbeth was first performed in 1934, but wasn't denounced until 1936. There isn't really any evidence I've found (up to this point!) to suggest Shostakovich at this time was against the very vague instructions of what Socialist Realist music should be (the concept had only just been introduced in 1932), and this sonata survived the censure of many of his other works, and was able to continue being performed when many of his other works couldn't. This might potentially influence a player's interpretation of the work. Or it might not...! Anyway, I enjoyed the video!
Colin Carr is a genius
I love Colin Carr's playing! However, there is some misinformation in this masterclass... The student is correct; this sonata was written in 1934 while Shostakovich was separated from his wife Nina who had discovered Shostakovich's affair with a young interpreter. Lady Macbeth was first performed in 1934, but wasn't denounced until 1936. There isn't really any evidence I've found (up to this point!) to suggest Shostakovich at this time was against the very vague instructions of what Socialist Realist music should be (the concept had only just been introduced in 1932), and this sonata survived the censure of many of his other works, and was able to continue being performed when many of his other works couldn't. This might potentially influence a player's interpretation of the work. Or it might not...!
Anyway, I enjoyed the video!