On Thursday, September 12, 2024, Teatro Malibran will host an extraordinary theatrical performance: “Gli occhiali di Šostakovič” (Šostakovič’s glasses), featuring the renowned actor Sergio Rubini. This compelling play, written by Valerio Cappelli, delves into the complex and turbulent life of Dmitrij Šostakovič, one of Russia’s greatest composers, who navigated the perilous waters of the Stalinist regime.
The production, directed by Angelo Tumminelli for Prima International Company in Rome, promises a rich multimedia experience. The audience will be immersed in a blend of recorded and live music, evocative images, photographs, and carefully designed stage settings, all enhancing the powerful narrative.
Šostakovič’s life was a paradox of extreme highs and lows. He received the highest honors from the Soviet state, yet lived in constant fear of arrest, with a suitcase packed beside his bed. He was both celebrated and misunderstood, awarded yet relentlessly threatened. As a composer, he walked a tightrope between artistic integrity and the oppressive demands of the Communist Party, which sought to control every aspect of creative expression.
Accused by Pravda of “formalism”, Šostakovič was criticized for defying the Party’s expectations of patriotic, optimistic works. When commissioned to compose the Soviet counterpart to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, he subverted expectations with a brief, irreverent twenty-minute piece. His opera Lady Macbeth was denounced as “chaos instead of music”.
“Gli occhiali di Šostakovič” is more than a play; it is a window into the soul of a man whose art was both his refuge and his peril. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the life of a genius caught in the crosshairs of history.
Website: www.teatrolafenice.it
Location: Malibran Theater, Venice
Schedule: Sep. 12, 2024
