The above quote is from the online listing for tonight's "For the Fallen" concert. Why the bogus claim that Stalin banned the work? It was withdrawn by the composer from its planned first performance. There certainly appears to have been pressure from the authorities put on the Leningrad Philharmonic and the organisers of the premiere, but the decision to cancel was that of the composer. See Mark Wigglesworth on the subject, for instance. Worth noting that while the manuscript of the orchestral score was 'lost' during what the Russians call "the Great Patriotic War", the 2 piano version was performed privately by the composer and Mieczysław Weinberg in the 1940s. That version was indeed later published, but then banned in 1948, during the period of the Zhdanov anti-formalism campaign. Perhaps it is the banning of that arrangement which the writer of online listing was confused by. However, it is not a difficlult matter for the Beeb to have got right, surely?
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How often do we find ourselves asking that? However Wiki does put forward the view that it was banned but DS was 'persuaded' to present that as his voluntary withdrawal, so depending on what source was used.....However, it is not a difficlult matter for the Beeb to have got right, surely?
Makes for a more attention grabbing headline. -
Oh, I have little doubt that it was a case of discretion being the better part of valour on the composer's part, and that the original reasons given by Shostakovich for the withdrawal were somewhat of a cover, but the bald statement offered by the Beeb really does not say much for their adherence to Reithian principles.Originally posted by oddoneout View PostComment
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As in so many other walks of public and corporate life these days spit has been substituted for glue in matters of adherence to principles.Originally posted by Bryn View PostComment
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Agreed with all that you write about this. The only thing that I'm unsure about is whether the full score ms. is still considered to be "lost"; as far as I can recall, its delayed publication was prepared from the set of parts used for the rehearsals for the abandoned première but I also don't know if these still exist either (or where they might be located if so). One can never be sure with certain Soviet-era mss.; consider, for example, how long Roslavets' remarkably ambitious (second) Chamber Symphony (composed contemporaneuosly wth Shostakovich's Fourth Symphony) languished in obscurity before being rediscovered...Originally posted by Bryn View PostComment
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Hmm, hence my use of 'lost', rather that lost. Must dig that Rosavlets disc out again.Originally posted by ahinton View PostComment
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