Classical Music Discoveries

Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 60 "Leningrad", was written in 1939–40. Initially dedicated to the life and deeds of Vladimir Lenin, Shostakovich decided instead to dedicate the symphony to the city of Leningrad on its completion in December 1941. The work remains one of Shostakovich's best-known compositions.

The piece soon became very popular in both the Soviet Union and the West as a symbol of resistance to Nazi totalitarianism and militarism. It is still regarded as the major musical testament of the estimated 25 million Soviet citizens who lost their lives in World War II. The symphony is played frequently at the Leningrad Cemetery, where half a million victims of the 900-day Siege of Leningrad are buried. As a condemnation of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the work is particularly representative of the political responsibilities that Shostakovich felt he had for the state, regardless of the conflicts and criticisms he faced throughout his career with Soviet censors and Joseph Stalin.

This lost recording was submitted to Classical Music Discoveries by a previous producer of Melodiya in 2014. This performance by the Leningrad Radio Orchestra was meant to serve as the national premier of this work. However the Leningrad Radio Orchestra had barely survived the war and conductor Karl Eliasberg had conducted the orchestra a little bit to the disliking of the Soviet government. So this recording was scrapped in favor of a less severe recording completed a month later. Thus this recording, has never been heard outside of the Leningrad Radio Orchestra and the staff at Melodiya.

This original analog recording, newly digitized by Classical Music Discoveries, is now available from our online store for only $1.99 as a digital download. To order this unique never-before-heard recording, just visit our store at www.ClassicalRecordings.co

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