Geniuses
The TV cycle" Geniuses " is dedicated to the great Russian composers Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Scriabin, and Shostakovich. This year, the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of Prokofiev's death and the 60th anniversary of Rachmaninoff's death, and in 2005, the 30th anniversary of Shostakovich's death and the 90th anniversary of Scriabin's death. The importance of Russian music is difficult to exaggerate. We want to draw Parallels in this TV series between the life that surrounded each of our five characters and the music that he wrote. Each of them has a tragic fate in their own way, and their creativity has significantly influenced the world music process.
Episodes
Runtime: 55m
What is Shostakovich? Is it possible to understand, to grasp, to describe and explain? The West was deeply shocked at the time, not believing that such a composer was possible in such a Soviet Union. His symphonies have been recognized all over the world. In 1948, Zhdanov named Shostakovich among the main figures of the "formalist movement". This did not prevent the authorities, both before and after that, from declaring Shostakovich the winner of Stalin's and then State Prizes: until 1953, Shostakovich received the Stalin prize five times and almost won the competition for the USSR anthem...
Runtime: 55m
The name of Vladimir Sofronitsky is on a par with the names of Anton Rubinstein and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Prokofiev and Shostakovich admired him, and the composer Glazunov shortly before his death called him one of the most remarkable Russian pianists... Vladimir Sofronitsky did not win international competitions, his titles are modest, and his biography is not rich in external notable events... But most importantly — a pianist of refined romantic style, Sofronitsky enjoyed a special favor of the public, which no official awards can win.
