The “Symphony n ° 7” of Chostakovitch, the sound weapon that challenged the Nazis – Rts.ch

As of September 8, 1941, the city of Leningrad was besieged by the Hitler’s armies. In addition, This seat, which will last almost 900 days, will cost a million civilians, died of hunger, cold or killed by bombings. Furthermore, A native of the city. Meanwhile, the Russian composer Dimitri Chostakovitch composes during the early days of this tragic seat part of his “Symphony n ° 7” called “Leningrad”, in difficult conditions.

When writing the work. Moreover, “the situation of Chostakovitch is that of all the inhabitants of Leningrad at the time, that is to say rations [de nourriture] Very reduced “symphony n ° 7” chostakovitch, (…). However, At the start of the headquarters, three million inhabitants lived in Leningrad. Therefore, Half manages to be evacuated from the city. Furthermore, survive, “said a whole world of August 12, the musician and researcher Hélène Daccord, author of” When music makes history “. For example,

The incredible journey of the partition – "symphony n ° 7" chostakovitch,

This is the case of the composer. evacuated against his will with his family on October 1, 1941. From the start of the war. Chostakovitch tried several times to be incorporated “symphony n ° 7” chostakovitch, into the Red Army to defend his city of Leningrad. It will ultimately be integrated into the fight against fires. But for the authorities, it is above all necessary to preserve the composer and make his music a mobilizing force. The score of “Symphony n ° 7” therefore has the utmost importance in the eyes of the Kremlin. will experience a real journey in a world at war.

“The score is typed, then microfilmed. She then saw a completely incredible journey since the microfilm crosses Iran. Egypt and even reached the United States, where the famous conductor Arturo Toscanini decided to interpret it. From July 1942, the great powers instantly measure the symbolic significance that this partition can have, as well as its interpretation (…) Chostakovitch. with his symphony and perhaps in spite of himself, becomes an icon of this claim of freedom in the face of Nazi Germany, “said Hélène “symphony n ° 7” chostakovitch, Daccord.

A large -scale operation

The symphony is experiencing a triumphant welcome in New York. but to become a real weapon of resistance, it must be interpreted in Leningrad. In this city where everything is missing, the musicians are on the forehead, when they are not dead. The radio orchestra is moribund, for lack of instruments. The Soviet authorities then set up a large -scale operation to create the work there.

“In August 1942, there were only fifteen musicians who were able to interpret the ‘Symphony No. 7’ in Léningrad besieged, continues the musicologist. About “symphony n ° 7” chostakovitch, fifty additional instrumentalists were recruited on the front, where they continue their military engagement while repeating the work. Obviously, musically, the result is quite artisanal, but symbolically. Radiation is global.

According to musical criticism, the creation of Chostakovitch’s “Symphony No. 7” in Leningrad is considered one of the most important artistic representations of war, due to its psychological and political effects.

Radio subject: Patrick Chaboudez

Adaptation Web: Melissa Härtel

Hélène Daccord, “When music makes history”, Past editions compounds, May 2023.