Shostakovich: Symphony #07 - EVGENY SVETLANOV/ USSR State Symphony Orche...

The Leningrad Symphony by Shostakovich was premiered in the city of Kuybyshev where the composer was temporarily living having been evacuated from Leningrad as the Germans completed their encirclement of the city. The Siege is a topic I deal with in 'A Book of Days - January' but here I would just like to say a few words about its first performance in the city it was dedicated too. A copy of the completed score was dropped into Leningrad by plane in May 1942. Many of the musicians who should have formed part of the orchestra were, by then, dead or too sick to play. They would be represented by empty chairs on performance night. Replacements were found amongst the city's defenders but there was only time and strength for one complete run through of the work before playing to the public, during rehearsals the weakened musicians frequently fainted and three died. The concert was broadcast live to the city and to the German beseigers. Although the orchestra was too weak to play well the work received an hour long ovation.
It was and remains a powerful symbol of defiance.