Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10

Shostakovich composed a total of 15 symphonies, some of truly monumental dimensions. His musical output is inevitably intertwined with the historical context of the Soviet Union. In 1948, he was censored, like other composers, for writing music considered 'formalist'. Although there are debates about the work's genesis, Shostakovich is said to have embraced the idea of composing this symphony after the death of Josef Stalin in March 1953, albeit without an explicit programme. The work does suggest the event in a somewhat unusual way. However, as in other works by the composer, the references also indicate an inner world of great richness, passing through sombre moments and others that are emotional and intense. The four movements have a marked character, with distinct features that allow Shostakovich to explore different musical references, such as the DSCH motif associated with his name, present in several movements and lending a sense of unity to the work. The premiere took place on 17 December 1953 in Leningrad, performed by the city's Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Evgeni Mravinski. Pre-concert talk 30 min. before. El Corte Inglés supports the CCB Classical Music Mediation Programme.