Shostakovich, Dimitri. (1906-1975). Autograph Letter thanking "participants of my VII symphony". Autograph Letter signed "D. Shostakovich, to Rodoljub Colakovic, president of Cultural cooperation of Yugoslavia with SSSR society. Translated in full: "Dear Comrade,Thank You for Your letter, which I have received and read with great joy. Please express my utmost gratitude to all participants of my VII symphony, also please deliver my letter to Oskar Danon. If it is not too much bother for You please send me the works of Yugoslav composers. I would like to get to know them. I wish You success in life and work. Kindest regards, D Shostakovich." Dated in another hand upper right in pencil "8. IX. 1945," presumably based on a postal cancelation date on a no-longer-present envelope.
Shostakovich composed his Symphony No. 7 (Leningrad) in C major, Op. 60, during the siege of Leningrad in 1941, and dedicated it to his home city. It was to become an icon of resistance to the siege of Leningrad, and one of the most widely discussed documents in the history of music. He completed it on 27 December 1941, and it was first performed on 5 March 1942 in Kuybïshev.
"[The Seventh Symphony’s] propaganda value was immediately realized. A microfilm of the score was flown to the West, where Toscanini and Stokowski were vying for the Western première; they were narrowly beaten to it by Sir Henry Wood at the London Proms. Other Russian orchestras took up the work, and on the day Hitler had decreed Leningrad should fall the besieged city itself mustered a historic performance from its few remaining musicians, reinforced by others recalled from the front; this was broadcast to the German troops in a show of defiance. Anti-Fascist and communist sympathizers in the West now took up Shostakovich’s cause with renewed vigour. Alan Bush and others organized lectures in London, and in September 1942 Charlie Chaplin, Paul Robeson, Toscanini and Stokowski sent him 36th birthday greetings from a San Francisco Festival devoted to his music." (Grove Online)
Shostakovich composed his Symphony No. 7 (Leningrad) in C major, Op. 60, during the siege of Leningrad in 1941, and dedicated it to his home city. It was to become an icon of resistance to the siege of Leningrad, and one of the most widely discussed documents in the history of music. He completed it on 27 December 1941, and it was first performed on 5 March 1942 in Kuybïshev.
"[The Seventh Symphony’s] propaganda value was immediately realized. A microfilm of the score was flown to the West, where Toscanini and Stokowski were vying for the Western première; they were narrowly beaten to it by Sir Henry Wood at the London Proms. Other Russian orchestras took up the work, and on the day Hitler had decreed Leningrad should fall the besieged city itself mustered a historic performance from its few remaining musicians, reinforced by others recalled from the front; this was broadcast to the German troops in a show of defiance. Anti-Fascist and communist sympathizers in the West now took up Shostakovich’s cause with renewed vigour. Alan Bush and others organized lectures in London, and in September 1942 Charlie Chaplin, Paul Robeson, Toscanini and Stokowski sent him 36th birthday greetings from a San Francisco Festival devoted to his music." (Grove Online)
Shostakovich, Dimitri. (1906-1975). Autograph Letter thanking "participants of my VII symphony". Autograph Letter signed "D. Shostakovich, to Rodoljub Colakovic, president of Cultural cooperation of Yugoslavia with SSSR society. Translated in full: "Dear Comrade,Thank You for Your letter, which I have received and read with great joy. Please express my utmost gratitude to all participants of my VII symphony, also please deliver my letter to Oskar Danon. If it is not too much bother for You please send me the works of Yugoslav composers. I would like to get to know them. I wish You success in life and work. Kindest regards, D Shostakovich." Dated in another hand upper right in pencil "8. IX. 1945," presumably based on a postal cancelation date on a no-longer-present envelope.
Shostakovich composed his Symphony No. 7 (Leningrad) in C major, Op. 60, during the siege of Leningrad in 1941, and dedicated it to his home city. It was to become an icon of resistance to the siege of Leningrad, and one of the most widely discussed documents in the history of music. He completed it on 27 December 1941, and it was first performed on 5 March 1942 in Kuybïshev.
"[The Seventh Symphony’s] propaganda value was immediately realized. A microfilm of the score was flown to the West, where Toscanini and Stokowski were vying for the Western première; they were narrowly beaten to it by Sir Henry Wood at the London Proms. Other Russian orchestras took up the work, and on the day Hitler had decreed Leningrad should fall the besieged city itself mustered a historic performance from its few remaining musicians, reinforced by others recalled from the front; this was broadcast to the German troops in a show of defiance. Anti-Fascist and communist sympathizers in the West now took up Shostakovich’s cause with renewed vigour. Alan Bush and others organized lectures in London, and in September 1942 Charlie Chaplin, Paul Robeson, Toscanini and Stokowski sent him 36th birthday greetings from a San Francisco Festival devoted to his music." (Grove Online)
Shostakovich composed his Symphony No. 7 (Leningrad) in C major, Op. 60, during the siege of Leningrad in 1941, and dedicated it to his home city. It was to become an icon of resistance to the siege of Leningrad, and one of the most widely discussed documents in the history of music. He completed it on 27 December 1941, and it was first performed on 5 March 1942 in Kuybïshev.
"[The Seventh Symphony’s] propaganda value was immediately realized. A microfilm of the score was flown to the West, where Toscanini and Stokowski were vying for the Western première; they were narrowly beaten to it by Sir Henry Wood at the London Proms. Other Russian orchestras took up the work, and on the day Hitler had decreed Leningrad should fall the besieged city itself mustered a historic performance from its few remaining musicians, reinforced by others recalled from the front; this was broadcast to the German troops in a show of defiance. Anti-Fascist and communist sympathizers in the West now took up Shostakovich’s cause with renewed vigour. Alan Bush and others organized lectures in London, and in September 1942 Charlie Chaplin, Paul Robeson, Toscanini and Stokowski sent him 36th birthday greetings from a San Francisco Festival devoted to his music." (Grove Online)