Shostakovich in Leningrad

[Tasker]

This is a call for anyone willing to help me in a bit of research. Does anyone know why it is that Dmitri Shostakovich remained in Leningrad during the Seige? All Internet searches so far have found web-sites which avoid the subject completely. Comments will be acknowledged in my bibliography. Cheers.

[vorosilov]

Hello Tasker,

Not only sostakovich but many famous people remained in Leningrad during the siege to lift the moral of the defenders of that great city.
The theatre, the opera, the balletgroups were all performing during the siege.

There were loudspeakers installed and Sostakovich pieces were broadcasted to the soldiers on the front.

[Voyager13b]

I have no reason to doubt that he remained in town for patriotic reasons, as Voro pointed out, but what was the alternative? Where could such an important figure have gone to enhance his own safety over that of his fellow citizens? To the west, he would have faced German bullets. To the east, he would have been met with the same fate, but from Russian forces who would not take kindly to his retreat in the face of their advance. I doubt he gave the issue a second thought.

Voyager

[Tasker]

That's a highly significant point Voyager, and quite understandable, considering the nature of Stalinist Russia during the war. I suppose Shostakovich truly had no alternative but it is good to know that he did not spend his time effortlessly. I wonder if in addition Shostakovich felt a sense of duty towards his home country. After all, other famous Russian composers like Rachmaninov emigrated from their homeland as a cause of the Communist government but yet for some reason Shostakovich stayed. Thank you for your help.

[ILay]

The reasons Voro and Voyager provided are highly interesting!

The only problem is that Shostakovich did not stay in Leningrad during the siege. He was evacuated to Kuibyshev autumn 1941.

[Balamut]

Hahahhehe

Ilay, long time no seen.
Where did you disappear?

[Voyager13b]

Originally posted by ILay
The reasons Voro and Voyager provided are highly interesting!

The only problem is that Shostakovich did not stay in Leningrad during the siege. He was evacuated to Kuibyshev autumn 1941.

It's about time you stopped by. I wasn't sure if he stayed or not, but some claim he did. Good for him if he was evacuated though, as it would have been the only safe way to leave the city.

Voyager