Interpreting Shostakovich with PostClassical Ensemble

Few twentieth-century composers pack as much bite in their music as the seminal Russian modernist Dmitri Shostakovich. Known equally for his epic, politically-charged symphonies as his bracing, acerbic string quartets, Shostakovich presents an emotional range possessing as much depth as any other serious composer of the last 125 years short of Mahler, his symphonic forefather. (For a true musical roller coaster ride, check out the entirety of Keith Jarrett's essential recording of the 24 Preludes and Fugues for Piano, quite possibly the most underrated piano work of the 20th century.) Rare in the context of often unpopular, 20th century music, this is music equally beloved by performers and audiences alike.

We're fortunate to have a glut of Shostakovich on the horizon in DC, as part of the Interpreting Shostakovich festival masterminded by PostClassical Ensemble, one of the most forward-thinking, innovative and far-more-than-capable new music ensembles in the country, starting this weekend with screenings of four rarely seen Shostakovich-scored films at the National Gallery. A stellar lineup of concerts and musicological offerings follow – if you've never heard this music (belovedly referred to as "Shosty" amongst classical cognoscenti), it's absolutely some of the most approachable, relevant and riveting modern classical music you'll come across.

You'll find the full schedule here. Enjoy!