Gustav Mahler & Dmitri Schostakowitsch
In the context of the entire history of music, the 46 years that sepa- rate the birth dates of Gustav Mahler and Dmitri Shostakovich are no big deal. Yet their life circumstances and social environment could hardly have been more contrasting: One in prosperous, culturally flourishing Vienna and the other somewhat later in the horror of Stalin‘s terror in the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, both composers have much in common musically, above all the urge and the ability to express their feelings – both knew extremes in all directions – directly into music; they left nothing out, unhindered by shame, prudery or – probably the worst of all - good taste!
Our oboist Eduard Wesly arranged Shostakovich‘s piano music and the orchestral part of Mahler’s songs for oboe and string trio.