Between Hammer and Sickle

The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra dedicates a special project to Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitry Shostakovich, two of the most prominent composers who lived under Stalin’s rule at the 2^nd half of the 20^th century, and their complex relationship with the Soviet regime.

Following two decades in which he had lived in the west, Sergei Prokofiev returned to the Soviet Union in 1936 - the only composer who had done so of the composers who had immigrated there. His decision to do so did stir much public criticism, but apart from ‘political’ works which praised the soviet regime he continued to be a popular composer whose works continued to be performed throughout Europe and America.

Dmitry Shostakovich was an active composer for many years under the Soviet regime. His first symphony (1925) was praised by Toscanini, Stokowski, Klemperer and others, and paved the way for recognition in the west. However, less than a decade later, Shostakovich was a haunted composer, a broken man living in fear of Stalin’s purges, which touched on almost every social echelon. Despite that, he continued to compose music, publishing dozens of symphonic works, works for ensembles, concerti and more.

The story of these two composers serves as a frame for our ‘focus’ programme, in which we will be hosting cellist Mischa Maisky and conductor Eliahu Inbal, and which also includes a narrated concert with Astrith Baltsan as well as a chamber concert featuring works by Soviet composers.


Concerts in this series:

Works by Shostakovich and Prokofiev
Saturday 4.2.23

Steven Sloane, conductor
Kolja Blacher, violin

Shostakovich - Moscow, Cheryomushki Suite
Prokofiev - Violin Concerto No. 2
Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5

A Russian Novel
Friday 10.2.23 | 11:00

Khachaturian, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Rachmaninoff
Three who fled and two who stayed – Five composers in the Soviet-era, five souls seeking a homeland

Guy Feder, conductor
Itamar Zorman, violin
Astrith Baltsan, pianist, artistic director, moderator

Programme TBA

Shostakovich’s Ninth and Cello Concerto, Excerpts from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliette
Thursday 16.2.23

Eliahu Inbal, conductor
Mischa Maisky, cello

Shostakovich - Cello Concerto No. 1
Prokofiev - Excerpts from Romeo and Juliette
Shostakovich - Symphony No. 9

Artists Under Pressure
Music by Soviet Composers of Different Periods
Tuesday 30.5.23 | Eden-Tamir Music Center Ein-Kerem 

Prokofiev - String Quintet

Shostakovich - Two Pieces for String Quartet 

Schnittke - Prelude in memoriam Dmitri Shostakovich for Two Violins

Franghiz Ali-Zadeh - Habil-Sayagy, for Cello and Prepared Piano

Gubaidulina - Quasi Hoquetus, for Viola, Bassoon and Piano

Schnittke - Serenade