Shostakovich 5th Symphony

[Contextcatcher]

For me is Shostakovich's 5th one of the great music masterpieces of mankind....haunting music....the violins...the horns..etc... touching many levels of my soul: those beautiful transitions in expressed feeling.

[WimGrundy]

YouTube insures forever that our lives are intertwined via the greatest media since Gutenberg.

[werq34ac]

wtf, woman in the middle of the performance. Learn some manners and shut up.

[overner2001]

I began to listen to this in 1974 and have admired it ever since, plus 7th and 10th symphonies. I recall as a young student writing about the 10th that there is a point in the piece where I magine the writer suddenly gets up and dances around the room celebrating freedom. I later discovered he had written it on Stalin's death. Listen to his 12th which celebrates the Russian revolution and it seems bland in comparison. To me, it's as if he was giving the Kremlin stooges what they wanted.

[fat0nick]

It is quite weird to read categorical opinions of foreigners. Guys, your interpretaions of Shostakovich music is too much ideologized.

[Salaaahh]

He was lucky =D

[nicholasair1982]

communist bastards

[Salaaahh]

Well, communisme is a nice way of thinking, but it just doesn't work in real terms. Human beings can't be equal to each other, if they have power, they need to abuse it. And we think we're the most intelligent species on earth! It's just our nature, unfortunately.

And why do you say that to me? I ment Shostakovich was lucky not to be killed. I'm no communist T_T

[swanningaround]

Excellent video. It shows the great hero Stalin, the noblest of all human beings. He saved the world from the evils of Nazism and Trotskyism. The Soviet people DEMANDED justice and Stalin delivered it. How Shostakovich loved noble Stalin. His music was written out of love for his beloved leader. We are all now safe in the world because of Comrade Stalin. He is surely in heaven.

[SeptSongs]

Though your outrageous humour is designed to provoke response (no doubt due to your own lack of self and juvenile insecurity) - please think about what you write and have empathy for others. You have no idea how hurtful you are being to the countless who suffered terrible loss under Stalin. It was a tragic period. Please consider that and be considerate.

[swanningaround]

SeptSongs. We cannot all agree on things. I think that you are basing your ideas on current day thinking, whereas the Leningrad events were based in the early 1940s. We were bought up to believe that the Soviets were "our noble Russian allies". I agree it was a tragic period. However, Stalin did not invade your country. He liberated it along with the hero Marshall of the Soviet Union Konev. Sure. Czechoslovakia as it was known was invaded in 1968. However, Stalin had nothing to do with that.

[kaisermuffin]

'It was a tragic period'. That has to be the understatement of the day. At least 20 million people died as a consequence of Stalin's purges, labor camps, and other policies. He caused 3 million Ukranians to starve to death. You are sick and twisted person if you think that makes a noble leader out of Stalin.

[swanningaround]

I guess it is selfishness on my part. If Stalin had not survived, then I would not have been here - my father would have died. Probably neither would you. Think about it!

[pbholden]

"A single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic."

- Joseph Stalin

Try and put things in perspective.

[swanningaround]

This is very true. It is a great pity that so many were killed. Unfortunately, the world was faced with war, and men like Stalin had to protect their countries. WW2 was caused by a number of events. Once started, it got quickly out of hand, with unforeseen circumstances.

[tvdavidb]

During the late 1930s, Stalin launched the Great Purge a campaign to purge the Communist Party of people accused of corruption or treachery; he extended it to the military and other sectors of Soviet society. Targets were often executed, imprisoned in Gulag labor camps or exiled. In the years following, millions of ethnic minorities were also deported.

[strela]

Here's what I think about the greatest work of all time...this symphony is about

Mv 1 Realizing your thoughts

Mv 2 Playing with your new ideas

Mv 3 Having doubts, wanting to be understood

Mv 4 Triumph! My life is mine!

[oobeth772oo]

Beautiful thoughts! Unfortunately Shostakovich's thoughts about the movements had to be suppressed during the time he wrote it. Lucky we can talk about this great work without fear today!

[ArturoAlejandroS]

and excllent video, very very good!interesting the interwiews!

[DefaultShinobi]

Is the conductor Bruce Campbell??

[ArturoAlejandroS]

communism is horror,stills the poor people, all are poor or something also(Cuba's earn is 20 dolars or also)but the leaders are the friends of people and the should earn more than they"for his love nd sacriffice to the people"read the animals farm or 1984,written by a communist even!, stalin and lenin and PCUS are criminals and murderers!.

Revolutions are made by the poverty and Revolutions make poverty.Victor Hugo.

[fiveohfirst2132]

can u even talk?

[Jitpring]

Communism is about the equalization of misery.

[ArturoAlejandroS]

You have all the reason.Greetings!

[mmuussiiccooppaattaa]

This is about music, not politics.

[Ruacello]

i have this documental complet is a great, i like so much

[Facade19]

What is it called? :)

Would like to have a copy myself.

[coldplaygirl]

does anyone know what t.v. station made this documentary about Shostakovich? I need to know for a paper... thanks!

[SeptSongs]

Yes, it was made for ZDF/ARTE in Germany and NPS in Holland and Bravo! in Canada and a number of other broadcasters - also for Philips Classics who recorded the performances and who have the DVD rights under the DECCA label

[tw1156]

fascinating piece of work. I love it. Thanks.

[Katamanteuomos]

Thank you for telling truth. We have to remember that in Russia nothing changed- I recommend you "Rebelion" of Nekrasow. About Shostakovich- he was a great sun of Russia and Europe of course, amazing Russian spirit. Greetings from Poland.

[thisismyname007]

On the political side of things, which is worse? Stalin's Russia or Bush's America??

[sugarhed]

What a fucking stupid question- Over 30 million died of Stalin's purges, famine and war; let's see America then...hmm most of the nation is obese because they have the freedom to sit on their fat asses, doing fuck-all and also haven't suffered the above-mentioned things- Hmm I wonder which one is worse...

[ZenMuadDib]

I find it remarkable that on this single page we have three different claims to the number of people killed under Stalin, doesn't that seem strange to anyone?

[Salaaahh]

you can't really know. They obviously didn't report all the murders that happend. But there certainly were more people murdered than Jews during the Holocaust in WW II. But a lot of what happend in the S-U will always be a mystery and we can only have a guess at the number of people who died back then.

[Salaaahh]

I am AGAINST Stalins regim!! Read what I write you stupid!

[modelstatue]

I know, I wasn't replying to you, I just wrote that as a general comment because I felt like flaming Stalin. It was in no way connected to you. I did not even read your comment, it wasn't even directed at you, it was directed at Stalin...so dont call me stupid! =P Dont assume everything is directed at you...

[Salaaahh]

Ow, oops =) Sorry ^^

[1violaplayr]

Please don't assume that because you dislike someone, they are a homosexual. There is nothing wrong with homosexuality, and that you seem to use it as a label for such a terrible dictator only reveals your own ignorance and intolerance.

[modelstatue]

OMG, you people take things way too seriously! I never said there was anything wrong with homosexuality and I am not interested in starting a fight, so just shut up and stop pointing out little things to prove people's ignorance! Either way Stalin was a bad man....it doesn't matter what we label him as! There is nothing wrong with homo's, so stop assuming thats what I think! Geesh! Enough said...I will not participate if you wish to carry on a fight.

[1violaplayr]

Using 'homo' as an insult is tacitly insulting anyone who identifies as homosexual. Would you question that it is insulting to Jews to call (let's use him again) Stalin a kike?

I am not trying to fight. I am not belligerent. I am looking for an apology, at best; at least I hope one person stops using 'homosexual' as an insulting term for ANYONE, gay or not.

I'm sorry if I take serious issues (discrimination, homophobia, totalitarianism, and murder) seriously. That's just how I am. Good day.

[MrUtube14]

lol. i type in shostakovichs 5th and sudenly i am reading about gay ppl. not that anythings wrong w/being homosexual.

[zcoston]

@1violaplayr Good for you. You are absolutely right.

[jezmuff]

@1violaplayr dude don't be gay

[1violaplayr]

@jezmuff Don't troll.

[SinSeared]

homosexuality is gay

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

Yeah that really was a dumb question

[thedbassist]

Are you kidding me? Stalin killed more of his own people than Hitler did of all people. Now I in no way support Bush, but to compare Shostakovich's life to the average Americans is insulting to Shostakovich and all Soviet Russian citizens who had to endure that tyranny.

[thisismyname007]

You are taking the German-Nazi-Fascist spin on Stalin. Post Commmunist Russian historians say no more than 3 million died during Stalin's rule and of those 800,000 were political or CRIMINAL executions and the rest was plain old starvation. No worse than a Czar!

[thedbassist]

If we're going to get technical, that information is unreliable and according to Wikipedia Stalin was responsible for the death of "a figure between 15 and 17 million victims" including famine, and famine is a worse death than homicide.

including famine, but

[POPIN666]

Dont read foolish soviet historians. Archive are opened now and we know the truth about Koba's crimes.

[ZenMuadDib]

Ok I don't know that the average American's life now is like that of a person living under Stalin, but look, there is no way that I can know everything that is going on in every corner of this country, much less the world. If one million American citizens went missing tomorrow and there were no media reports of it, I probably would not know the difference.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

Bush is in no way comparable to Stalin, this is the dumbest comment ever.

[funkwithit]

Not comparable because there is insufficient American suffering |3ooch is exceedingly ignorant whereas Stalin could be recognized as a sort of deviant political genius although, it has been suggested |3ooch invokes deviance, one might conclude this is a comparison. The aforesaid comment likely refers to parallels in the submission of dissent, and depreciation of ideals that keep us free. -273.15 does this describe your soul or nomenclature suggesting a level of intellect? I pray it is neither

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

Your choice of diction is rather odd, but my name suggests a username that I've used since 8th grade because I thought it was cool back then. I still think the words sound cool and that the meaning itself is interesting. Anyway, such a general comparison can be drawn between any leader such that you could say that anyone is similar to anyone. The point is, realistically speaking, Stalin is much worse than Bush.

[oatboy]

bush is a pretty bad president but the two leaders are not even comparable.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

agreed

[MnEmonicist]

(@Absolutist)

Yes, your name IS C001!

AND r e m e m b e r a b l e

so:

abstain from

B10w Z3r0

comments :)

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

(continued) I've never woken up one day on American soil and felt repressed, however, I doubt the same could be said had I lived in Stalin's USSR.

[miklos637]

Thats a tough one, in terms of capitalism i would say Bush's. Now in Mongol Terms i would say Stalins form of government was the best choice.

[chicaporfavor]

True, we don't have the benefit of hindsight in regards to this administration, and there could be and probably are incredibly heinous things going on, but still, to ask that..

[DualThunder]

at the end of the video, it says that the death of the investigator decided shostakovich's fate. What happened next?

[deeaaath]

....what's all that stuff in the beginning that isn't the 5th symphony?

[Shostabeast]

It is the first movement of the fourth symphony which is a great symphony and well worth hearing if you like the fifth.

[QuizzicalLaws]

Thank you so much for posting this. I spent three weeks in St. Petersburg in June and fell in love with the city. I also saw Gergiev conducting at the Mariinsky Theatre. This video gives a powerful message set against the wonderful music of Shostakovich and lovely images of St. Petersburg. Well done!

[objectivistrf]

It's not always good to say that DSCH's music has only social interpretation ("soviet union repressive sociaty, historical disasters - world war II and so on). It is also very personal.

[AlannTH]

This is why I love You Tube. Posts like this make sites like this something to be proud of. Good work.

[tomdownes1]

Good mix of music and history. I really enjoy his 5th symphony, but I haven't heard any others of his. Which should I check out next?

[budddda]

10th symphony

[rlgrunge]

1st symphony

[erikstijnen]

8th Symphony!

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

10th

[CrackWilding]

The 10th is probably your best bet. I like the 7th a lot too though.