Composer

:

Dmitry Shostakovich

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Suite

Compose Date

:

1974

Average_duration

:

40:29

Movement_count

:

11

Movement ....

Dmitry Shostakovich's 'Suite on Verses of Michelangelo (11), Op. 145' is a song cycle composed in 1974. The premiere of the work took place on December 18, 1974, in Moscow, with the baritone Yevgeny Nesterenko and the pianist Mstislav Rostropovich performing. The suite consists of eleven movements, each of which sets a poem by Michelangelo Buonarroti to music. The first movement, "Truth," is a somber and introspective piece that sets the tone for the rest of the suite. The second movement, "Morning," is more upbeat and optimistic, with a lively piano accompaniment and a soaring vocal line. The third movement, "Love," is a tender and romantic piece that showcases Shostakovich's gift for melody. The fourth movement, "Separation," is a mournful and melancholy piece that explores the pain of parting from a loved one. The fifth movement, "Anger," is a fiery and intense piece that captures the rage and frustration of the poet. The sixth movement, "Dante," is a haunting and atmospheric piece that evokes the spirit of the great Italian poet. The seventh movement, "To the Exile," is a poignant and heartfelt piece that expresses the pain of being separated from one's homeland. The eighth movement, "Creativity," is a lively and energetic piece that celebrates the power of art to inspire and uplift. The ninth movement, "Night," is a dark and brooding piece that explores the mysteries of the night. The tenth movement, "Death," is a somber and reflective piece that contemplates the inevitability of mortality. The final movement, "Immortality," is a triumphant and uplifting piece that celebrates the enduring power of the human spirit. Overall, the 'Suite on Verses of Michelangelo (11), Op. 145' is a deeply personal and introspective work that showcases Shostakovich's gift for melody and his ability to capture the full range of human emotion in music.

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