Composer

:

Dmitry Shostakovich

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Suite

Compose Date

:

1974

Average_duration

:

41:54

Movement_count

:

11

Movement ....

Dmitry Shostakovich's "Suite on Verses of Michelangelo (11), Op. 145a" 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 based on a poem by Michelangelo Buonarroti. The poems are taken from the collection "The Sonnets of Michelangelo," which was published posthumously in 1623. Shostakovich chose poems that deal with themes of love, death, and the human condition. 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 a more upbeat and optimistic piece that celebrates the beauty of nature. The third movement, "Love," is a passionate and intense piece that explores the complexities of romantic love. The fourth movement, "Separation," is a mournful and melancholic piece that deals with the pain of separation from a loved one. The fifth movement, "Anger," is a fiery and explosive piece that expresses the rage and frustration of the human condition. The sixth movement, "Dante," is a contemplative and introspective piece that reflects on the legacy of the great Italian poet. The seventh movement, "To the Exile," is a poignant and emotional piece that expresses the pain and longing of being separated from one's homeland. The eighth movement, "Creativity," is a lively and energetic piece that celebrates the power of artistic expression. The ninth movement, "Night," is a haunting and atmospheric piece that explores the mysteries of the night. The tenth movement, "Death," is a somber and reflective piece that contemplates the inevitability of death. The final movement, "Immortality," is a triumphant and uplifting piece that celebrates the enduring legacy of Michelangelo's art and poetry. Overall, the "Suite on Verses of Michelangelo (11), Op. 145a" is a deeply personal and introspective work that reflects Shostakovich's own struggles with mortality and the human condition. The music is characterized by its emotional intensity, its use of dissonance and chromaticism, and its powerful sense of drama and expression.

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