Exploring Shostakovich

What is the course about?

This ten‑session course offers a comprehensive introduction to the life, music, and legacy of Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), a composer whose voice became synonymous with artistic expression under political pressure. Through guided listening, contextual study, and group discussion, we will explore Shostakovich’s early success, his fraught relationship with Soviet authorities, and his extraordinary output across symphonies, chamber music, opera, film scores, and vocal works.

The course will also examine the cultural and political world of the Soviet Union, the mechanisms of censorship and survival, and the complex expressive codes woven into Shostakovich’s music, ranging from biting satire to profound tragedy. You will gain insight into the composer’s evolving style, his collaborations, his personal struggles, and his enduring influence on performers, audiences, and composers today.

There is a break week on 29 Oct 2026.

What will we cover?

• St Petersburg and Shostakovich’s musical upbringing
• The First Symphony
• Early piano works and Shostakovich as performer‑composer
• Film scores and theatre collaborations in the 1920s
• Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk
• 1936 denunciation: Pravda, “Muddle Instead of Music,” and political fallout
• Music, censorship, and the artist in danger
• The Fifth Symphony: “A Soviet artist’s reply to just criticism”
• Shostakovich and the Soviet film industry
• Ballets and incidental music

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Understand Shostakovich’s life, artistic development, and the cultural‑political context of the Soviet Union
• Identify key features of his musical language across symphonies, chamber music, opera, film, and vocal genres
• Recognise the expressive strategies Shostakovich used to navigate censorship, personal struggle, and artistic freedom
• Discuss his lasting influence on modern music, performance interpretation, and contemporary cultural understanding

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is suitable for learners at various levels and does not require the ability to read music. A general interest in modern music, Russian and soviet history and culture will be helpful. Listeners already familiar with this composer’s best‑known works may appreciate deeper analysis offered in the sessions.

Complete beginners to classical music are welcome, though basic familiarity with classical music will enhance your experience.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Sessions will comprise combinations of lecture, discussion, quizzes, guided listening, video and score study.
Course materials (handouts, scores, links to online videos) will be shared via Google Classroom.
You will be encouraged to do further reading and listening outside class.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class, links to these materials will be available online in Google Classroom after each session.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

To find out more about music history classes please visit Music history: your guide to our programme, which lists our full programme of classes ordered by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline.