Testimony

A wonder of the 20th century, composer Dmitri Shostakovich, tells his story to Solomon Volkov for historys record

Since the time of his death, Dmitri Shostakovich’s place in the pantheon of 20th century composers has become more commanding and more celebrated, while his musical legacy, with all its wonderfully varied richness, is performed with increasing frequency throughout the world.

This seemingly endless surge of interest can be attributed, at least in part, to Testimony, the powerful memoirs the ailing compose dictated to the young Russian musicology Solomon Volkov. When Testimony was first published in the West in 1979, it became an international bestseller, and was called the “book of the year” by The Times in London. The Guardian heralded Testimony as “the most influential music book of the 20th century.” Testimony offers a chance to reckon with the life and work of one of history’s most lauded musical geniuses—as a man and an artist.

But what was the true story behind the public figure of the loyal Soviet artist? What was the price of survival under Stalin?

A Secret History: Shostakovich’s unfiltered account of his tormented relationship with Stalin, the brutal purges, and the constant fear that shaped his life and music. The Composer as Eyewitness: Unflinching portraits of contemporaries like Prokofiev and Meyerhold, and a stark look at the cultural politics of the totalitarian state. Music Against Totalitarianism: The hidden meanings behind his most famous works, including the Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth Symphonies, revealed as acts of coded defiance. A Controversial Legacy: Discover why this explosive memoir became an international sensation, hailed as "the most influential music book of the 20th century."