The somber theme of Shostakovich's Fourteenth Symphony bears similarities with Mussorgsky's Without Sun and the Songs and Dances of Death. The agreement will not be accidental, for some seven years before the Fourteenth, Shostakovich orchestrated the latter cycle. In terms of design, the Fourteenth also shows similarities with Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde: after all, both works are song cycles on
… a symphonic scale. In terms of text, Shostakovich is dark-galled realism light years away from Mahler's refined exoticism: where Mahler sees death in the perspective of the 'sweet earth' that is always renewing itself, Shostakovich cynically confronts us with the inevitable of death, after which everything over and out. Shostakovich's cynicism would be unacceptable if it did not at the same time testify to truthfulness and protest. For example, in Simon Rattles DVD series Leaving Home, the ninth song (O Delvig, Delvig!) Was accompanied by a picture gallery of artists who fell victim to the communist repression. This CD release combines Shostakovich's Fourteenth Symphony with his First Symphony. (HJ)more
