Dmitri Shostakovich in his works

In the autumn of 2020, Kirill Petrenko performed Dmitri Shostakovich’s Eighth and Ninth Symphonies with the Berliner Philharmoniker within a short period of time, initiating an intensive exploration of his work. Shostakovich’s music, which is characterised by both expressive intensity and ambiguity, is a compelling account of the life of the individual under the conditions of war and dictatorship. This playlist presents some of the St. Petersburg-born composer’s most important works.