Listen Top Shows Blog

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5: a symphony of bravery, intrigue, and survival

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5: a symphony of bravery, intrigue, and survival

Update: 2025-04-15

Share

Description

Few other works in the canon occupy a place like this symphony by Dmitri Shostakovich. John Banther and Evan Keely dive into history as they show you what to listen for, Shostakovich's perilous circumstances, and what clues he could have left for all of us in the music.

Support Classical Breakdown: https://weta.org/donatefm

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comments

In Channel

Bonus episode! 3 select performances of guitarist Xuefei Yang

Bonus episode! 3 select performances of guitarist Xuefei Yang

2025-10-2112:45

Xuefei Yang performs Erik Satie and shares insight into her new album!

Xuefei Yang performs Erik Satie and shares insight into her new album!

2025-10-1441:11

Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 "Eroica", Rejecting Napoleon and Charting a New Path!

Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 "Eroica", Rejecting Napoleon and Charting a New Path!

2025-09-3001:04:11

The Great World of Percussion with Chris DeChiara: From bones and war drums to symphonies!

The Great World of Percussion with Chris DeChiara: From bones and war drums to symphonies!

2025-09-1601:44:57

Bonus episode! A performance of a suite from the ballet Daphnis and Chloe by Maurice Ravel

Bonus episode! A performance of a suite from the ballet Daphnis and Chloe by Maurice Ravel

2025-09-0916:35

Maurice Ravel at 150: celebrating his life, music, and influence!

Maurice Ravel at 150: celebrating his life, music, and influence!

2025-09-0201:23:43

Recommended listening; 4 new albums to listen to this summer!

Recommended listening; 4 new albums to listen to this summer!

2025-06-2431:21

Mahler's Symphony No. 5, a story of uncertainty and triumph

Mahler's Symphony No. 5, a story of uncertainty and triumph

2025-06-1001:10:15

Felix Mendelssohn: A prodigy, inventor, and visionary!

Felix Mendelssohn: A prodigy, inventor, and visionary!

2025-05-2701:07:29

Verdi's Rigoletto: Unforgettable tunes, tragedy, and a new concept in opera

Verdi's Rigoletto: Unforgettable tunes, tragedy, and a new concept in opera

2025-05-1301:10:13

John Williams: a defining American composer that goes beyond the silver screen

John Williams: a defining American composer that goes beyond the silver screen

2025-04-2959:03

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5: a symphony of bravery, intrigue, and survival

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5: a symphony of bravery, intrigue, and survival

2025-04-1501:00:04

An update on Florence Price!

An update on Florence Price!

2025-04-1001:55

The most difficult music for piano: Gaspard de la Nuit by Maurice Ravel

The most difficult music for piano: Gaspard de la Nuit by Maurice Ravel

2025-04-0137:31

The Future is Female: Exploring Clarice Assad and the Boulanger Initiative with Laura Colgate

The Future is Female: Exploring Clarice Assad and the Boulanger Initiative with Laura Colgate

2025-03-1855:00

Ethel Smyth's Mass in D: A 19th century mass by an extraordinary woman!

Ethel Smyth's Mass in D: A 19th century mass by an extraordinary woman!

2025-03-0457:26

Olly Wilson, an American composer that will change how you hear music!

Olly Wilson, an American composer that will change how you hear music!

2025-02-1841:15

Carlos Simon's Songs of Separation: An American song cycle set to poetry of Rumi

Carlos Simon's Songs of Separation: An American song cycle set to poetry of Rumi

2025-02-0447:06

Lincoln Portrait: Aaron Copland's defense of Democracy

Lincoln Portrait: Aaron Copland's defense of Democracy

2025-01-2144:38

Chris Gekker tells us everything about the trumpet!

Chris Gekker tells us everything about the trumpet!

2025-01-0701:01:40

00:00

00:00

x

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5: a symphony of bravery, intrigue, and survival

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5: a symphony of bravery, intrigue, and survival

WETA Classical