How Shostakovich signed his support for the Kremlin

How Shostakovich signed his support for the Kremlin

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norman lebrecht

March 12, 2014

There’s a story among Russian musicians that the great composer practised signing his name upside down.

When asked why, Dmitri Shostakovich said ‘they are always sending me these letters asking for my support in one cause or other. I don’t want to read them. So, as they come across the desk, I sign them upside down.’

Shame Valery Gergiev has suspended his critical faculties when dealing with Putin and power.

It’s just like Stalin times.

kondrashin, shostakovich

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