D. Shostakovich. Symphony No. 12, "The Year 1917"

In the year marking the 120th anniversary of the birth of Dmitri Shostakovich, the St. Petersburg Governor’s Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Anton Lubchenko, presented one of the composer’s most ambitious scores.

"To write a symphony dedicated to the memory of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin has long been a cherished desire of mine. The idea for this symphony first occurred to me back in 1924, during the days of profound national mourning." Shostakovich wrote these words in 1940. He had envisioned a work incorporating an orchestra, vocal soloists, and a choir, with Vladimir Mayakovsky’s poem "Vladimir Ilyich Lenin" and various folk songs about Lenin serving as its poetic foundation. However, the programmatic concept of the work later evolved.

Shostakovich composed his Symphony No. 12, subtitled "The Year 1917," in 1961—a period of full artistic maturity. The work serves as a musical and philosophical reflection on the Great October Revolution, a pivotal turning point in the destiny of Russia. Each movement of the symphony bears a specific title. The four "chapters" of this symphonic cycle—"Revolutionary Petrograd," "Razliv," "Aurora," and "The Dawn of Humanity"—paint a grand, sweeping portrait of a bygone era.

Although the Symphony No. 12 premiered in Leningrad in 1961, even decades later, the piece continues to evoke a crucial chapter in the nation’s history and invites deep, serious reflection.

The concert was part of the "Tchaikovsky: Reboot" festival, under the artistic direction of Hans-Joachim Frey.

PROGRAM:

D. Shostakovich. Symphony No. 12 in D minor, "1917," Op. 112.

PERFORMERS:

St. Petersburg Gubernatorial Symphony Orchestra,

Conductor — Anton Lubchenko.

St. Petersburg, St. George Hall of the State Hermitage Museum, October 25, 2026