Composer

:

Dmitry Shostakovich

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song Collection

Compose Date

:

1936

Average_duration

:

11:21

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Dmitry Shostakovich's 'Romances (4) by Pushkin, Op. 46' is a song cycle composed in 1942. The premiere of the work took place in Moscow on December 6, 1942, with the composer himself at the piano and the baritone Ivan Kozlovsky as the soloist. The cycle consists of four songs, each based on a poem by Alexander Pushkin. The first song, 'Rebirth,' is a melancholic reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. The music is somber and introspective, with a haunting melody that underscores the poem's themes of loss and transience. The second song, 'Jealousy,' is a dramatic and passionate piece that explores the destructive power of jealousy. The music is intense and turbulent, with a driving rhythm that underscores the poem's themes of obsession and betrayal. The third song, 'In the Midst of the Ball,' is a lively and playful piece that captures the festive atmosphere of a ball. The music is light and buoyant, with a sprightly melody that evokes the joy and excitement of the occasion. The final song, 'The Poet's Death,' is a poignant and introspective piece that reflects on the life and legacy of a poet. The music is mournful and contemplative, with a haunting melody that underscores the poem's themes of mortality and artistic expression. Overall, Shostakovich's 'Romances (4) by Pushkin, Op. 46' is a powerful and evocative song cycle that showcases the composer's skill at setting poetry to music. The work is characterized by its emotional intensity, its vivid imagery, and its masterful use of melody and harmony to convey the complex themes and emotions of Pushkin's poetry.

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