|
|
|
In
the twentieth century, Russia continued to produce some of the
world's foremost composers and musicians, despite the suppression by
Soviet authorities of both music and performances. Restrictions on
what musicians played and where they performed caused many artists
to leave the Soviet Union either voluntarily or through forced
exile, but the works of the émigrés continued to draw large
audiences whenever they were performed.
Musical
composition in the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 1930s was primarily
connected with the names of Prokofiev, Shostakovich, and
Khachaturian. Prokofiev distinguished himself in his piano pieces
Obsession and Sarcasms, his ballet The Buffoon,
and his Classical Symphony. After spending about fifteen
years abroad, he returned to Russia in 1934 to compose his
best-known works, including the ballets Romeo and Juliet and
Cinderella, the operas Betrothal in a Convent and
War and Peace, and Symphonies Nos. 5, 6 and 7.
 |
Shostakovich is
famous primarily as a symphonist, who continued the musical
tradition of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Mahler. He produced 15
symphonies, 15 quartets, a number piano pieces, and film and theater
music. During Stalin’s period in power Prokofiev and Shostakovich
were severely criticized by Soviet authorities for “formalism” in
music. Their work would receive full recognition only in the 1960s
and 70s.
Works by Aram
Khachaturian are characterized by a fusion of Western harmonies with
pentatonic scales typical of Oriental music. They include three
symphonies, several concertos for piano, violin and violoncello, and
the ballets Gayaneh and Spartacus. |
|
|
|
|
