Dimitri Shostakovich was born in in St. Petersburg, Russian on September 25, 1906, and died in Moscow on August 9, 1975. He wrote this cello concerto no. 2 Op. 126 in the spring of 1966, specifically for Mstislav Rostropovich who was a celebrated cellist and a dear friend. The state Academy Symphony Orchestra of the USSR gave the performance on September 25, 1966 to celebrate Shostakovich’s sixtieth birthday. It was recorded live in the Large Hall of Moscow State Conservatory. The orchestra consists of flutes, piccolo, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, timpani, whip, woodblock, tom-tom, tambourine, side drum, bass drum, xylophone, harp and strings. The concert lasted around thirty-five minutes and has three movements, with the Largo, Allegretto,
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The movement then intensifies with a series of interruptions by the xylophone. This is notable for its mocking and almost uncertain sound; the aggressive taps of the xylophone and accompanied by the flute and cello undertones. These exchanges continue until the cello leads the orchestra into an aggressive climax. The flutes drive the other instruments into a spiraling set of tone shifts, while the brass proclaim long, lonely notes beneath. This climactic moment is concluded by a sharp and sudden boom of the drum, which continues to pulse, repeated for a short while after. The Largo closes softly. Then the second movement comes in which is five minutes long. After, the third and final movement begins with French horn fanfares. Terminated by a sudden interjection of the tambourine and cello solo. The Allegretto builds in intensity, rising with a exchange of cello bursts countered by the drum, eventually developing into a furious climax, first repeating the fanfare theme, then reverting to a weird variation of the Odessa theme. The whip is cracked twice during the climax, first unexpectedly, then ending the tutti. This is the only one of Shostakovich’s six concertos to end quietly. It is concluded with an eerie exchange of the cello and woodblock, and draws to a low close.
The concert starts out with the cello being played in a low and deep tone. It has a dark and eerie mood
The movement then intensifies with a series of interruptions by the xylophone. This is notable for its mocking and almost uncertain sound; the aggressive taps of the xylophone and accompanied by the flute and cello undertones. These exchanges continue until the cello leads the orchestra into an aggressive climax. The flutes drive the other instruments into a spiraling set of tone shifts, while the brass proclaim long, lonely notes beneath. This climactic moment is concluded by a sharp and sudden boom of the drum, which continues to pulse, repeated for a short while after. The Largo closes softly. Then the second movement comes in which is five minutes long. After, the third and final movement begins with French horn fanfares. Terminated by a sudden interjection of the tambourine and cello solo. The Allegretto builds in intensity, rising with a exchange of cello bursts countered by the drum, eventually developing into a furious climax, first repeating the fanfare theme, then reverting to a weird variation of the Odessa theme. The whip is cracked twice during the climax, first unexpectedly, then ending the tutti. This is the only one of Shostakovich’s six concertos to end quietly. It is concluded with an eerie exchange of the cello and woodblock, and draws to a low close.
The concert starts out with the cello being played in a low and deep tone. It has a dark and eerie mood