We had the amazing experience this evening of hearing Vladimir Ashkenazy talk about the experience of musicians through the aftermath of the Russian Revolution: how Tchaikovsky remained acceptable throughout; Rachmaninov was removed from the repertoire when he emigrated to the United States, after leaving on a sled for Finland in December 1917, but reinstated after he expressed support for Russia in the early years of the second world war; and Shostakovitch fell from favour after being attacked by Pravda for his Lady Macbeth. All of this is doubtless familiar to musical historians; but sounds different when described by someone who himself had difficulties with the Soviet authorities.
Then he played.
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 
How wonderful to have this opportunity to hear Ashkenazy play and hear about his life. Am I dreaming….or is it possible that he was touring England in 1972? I think I had the privilege of hearing him play at a small concert at Stamford Arts Centre, Lincs, that year. He was the sole performer and it was a wonderful programme — Rachmaninov and other greats. (You will not be surprised that I do not have recall of the exact items! That was anyway a traumatic year for me but this concert was definitely a high spot.) If you tell me it was impossible, and I imagined it, then so be it but reading his biography it seems plausible.
Sounds possible. He was based in Iceland, but touring. Charles
You might find Julian Barnes’ novel The Noise of Time about Shostakovitch’s life under Stalin interesting – if rather depressing.
Thank you for the tip. Will read it. Charles
Shostakovich, after Lady Macbeth, came under huge political pressure (more, I suspect, than the painters and sculptors of the period) and only managed to recover himself with his Quartets and the great Quintet.
I saw him at the RFH in about 1972 so I wouldn’t be surprised
That’s good to know. Thanks Lesley. (He looked so YOUNG then! ..but so did we all)