‘Talk by Francis Maes’

Prof. Francis Maes (UGent) - Conference in Dutch​​​​​​​

Over a short period of time, Dmitri Shostakovich became one of the most performed composers of the 20th century. The mystery surrounding the person and his status as a Soviet composer contributed to this notable success. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the wildest theories circulated about the meaning of his work. The controversies remain to this day. Was he a dissident or a faithful servant of the Soviets? Were the political messages we believe we hear in his work actually intended as such? 

Music thrives on mystery and emotion. If we take a step back and look at his life and work with greater objectivity, nuances appear that can bring him closer as a person and as an artist. Nuances that show that he could be an engaged, critical artist without being a dissident. That he was able to develop his own artistic project despite external pressure; that he was able to use the Soviet system both for his own career and to help others. Two characteristics are nevertheless evident: Firstly, he was never a composer of the Soviet people but of the Soviet intellectual elite, and secondly, he assumed a public persona due to his constant desire to express himself, in words and in music.

Francis Maes is professor of musicology at Ghent University and senior lecturer with the Department of Art, Music and Theatre Sciences. Author of A History of Russian Music: From Kamarinskaya to Babi Yar, regarded as a standard work, he is a recognised expert on Russian music.