Shostakovich and the Sputnik

Shostakovich and the Sputnik

Orchestras

norman lebrecht

January 06, 2024

Has there ever been a less appropriate cover image for the Shostakovich string quartets?

Who made that call?

 

Comments

  • James Benson says:

    I know that some people will think it’s a dog but I quite laik it.

  • Penelope Insect says:

    It looks like Darth Vader in a condom.

  • Ex-conductor says:

    AI request:
    Vaccination with dog, Dresden 1960

  • A.G. says:

    One of Shostakovich’s was the first human melody to ever sound in outer space (1961, Gagarin singing his op.86a #1 while circling earth). The string quartets on that recording are from the times when “space race” was one of the big topics of the world (#7: 1960, #13: 1970; Sputnik was 1957, just three years before).

    So, actually, quite appropriate.

    • guest says:

      And a reminder of Russian accomplishments, especially ironic as the West is unfortunately getting its ass kicked by “weak” Russia.

  • Joel Kemelhor says:

    A bewildered creature trapped in a Soviet machine ? Not entirely wrong with reference to Shostakovich.

  • Robert Holmén says:

    That poor dog was baked to death.

    However, I’ll note that a number of US test animals fared no better.

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