Mitia's Sun

“Mitia” was his intimate's nickname for Dmitri Shostakovich.

“We have a happy life under the sun of Stalin’s constitution”. This prudently ironical quotation is taken from the private correspondence of the composer. It also represents the genesis of the title of this brass quintet, as well as its character of violence and oppression. The final giubilo is an explosion of joy and liberation.

For the Soviets, he was an elitist composer of the bourgeoisie while the West considered him as Stalin’s propagandist. This was Shostakovich’s tragedy. His only fault was to have to live under a bad sun.