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The Power of the Symphony: Dmitry Shostakovich

Dimitry Shostakovich

A couple of weeks ago, while riding the bus to a different part of town, I stumbled upon a symphony composed by Dmitry Shostakovich. I had seen his name before, but not yet heard any of his compositions. That bus ride changed my view of symphonies forever, I suppose?

I had always loved the sound of a big symphony orchestra, but did not get into classical music until the pandemic in 2020. At that time, I discovered my love for classical music while learning to play the piano. I had always been fascinated with the piano – all forms of piano music. But once I started learning to play, I realized that classical piano is my favorite.

My love for classical piano lead me down a path of discovery, listening to the likes of Sergei Rachmaninov (my favorite), Franz Liszt, and others. I spend a lot of time listening to fantastic classical piano pieces and watching videos of performances for study. I watch performers such as Yuja Wang, Yevgeny Kissin, Daniil Trifonov, Yeol Eum Son, Alexander Malofeev, Tiffany Poon, and others.

Johannes Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor had an impact in my growing appreciation for concertos and symphonies. This particular concerto has no equal. I am not entirely sure how this amazing piece lead me to symphonies, but after a few months of thoroughly enjoying this, I started choosing random pieces to listen to.

The first time that I heard Shostakovich Symphony No. 10 in E Minor I was amazed. Such beautiful, powerful, and emotional music is a thing from out of this world. I love this piece so much I started looking into other pieces composed by Dmitry Shostakovich. It was during this search when I found Shostakovich Symphony No. 7 in C Major… in particular the finale of the 4th movement.

The finale of Shostakovich’s 7th symphony just sent me into another zone. The sheer power and volume of the orchestra sends chills down my spine. The tones, solos, and changes in volume and emotion take me on an emotional rollercoaster. I feel so many different, at times competing, emotions that at the end, I am left panting.

My favorite recording of Shostakovich’s 7th symphony was conducted by Vasily Petrenko and performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. This album was released April 29, 2013 by Naxos.

Official Website: https://vasilypetrenkomusic.com/project/shostakovich-symphony-no-7-leningrad/

Be sure to watch perhaps the best video of a live performance of this piece on YouTube. It was conducted by Klaus Mäkelä when he was only 23 years young. The orchestra of note is the Frankfurt Radio Symphony. This was filmed on November 1, 2019. Watching this performance makes me wish to be a part of such a grand, beautiful, regal, and stunning orchestra.

Klaus Mäkelä was recently named as the next director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This young Finn is an incredible part of the broader classical community and his youth may very well inspire more young people to experience the power of classical music.

Note Klaus Mäkelä’s glasses and similarity in appearance to the great Shostakovich during this particular performance. His energy paired with this incredible Frankfurt Radio Symphony makes this a video that I highly recommend to all… even if you don’t love classical music, you will love this performance and end up loving classical music.

It was while listening to these pieces that I realized the meaning of the phrase, “one does not listen to classical music, they experience it”. These symphonies are an experience that defy description. There really is power in classical music.

Shostakovich Symphony No. 7 conducted by Klaus Mäkelä and performed by the Frankfurt Radio Symphony

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Wrestling Classical Music

Among my friends and colleagues, it should come as no surprise that in addition to classical music, I am also a fan of professional wrestling. Professional wrestling? Yes, professional wrestling. I have been watching since I was eleven years young. Wrestling was all around me. Some of my childhood friends are related to some very big names in the professional wrestling industry. But this is a blog about classical music, is it not?

Ahh, yes, this is a blog about classical music. It is titled Fan Classical… so it is about fans of classical music…. in particular this fan. The world of classical music is fantastic and has brought me such joy. There are a few other things that bring me joy, and wrestling is one of them.

I suppose you are wondering, what’s wrestling gotta do with classical music? Well, “let me tell ya something” (spoken in a hyped-up pro wrestler promotion style). Professional wrestlers usually come to the ring accompanied by music. Some arrive to heavy metal, others to pop music. In more recent times, some wrestlers have come out to hip hop, house, or dance music. As far back as the 1980s, certain wrestlers used classical music as their entrance music.

Classical music invokes an emotional response from listeners. We don’t “listen” to classical music, we experience it. Professional wrestling is performed to invoke a response from the audience. These responses may be in the form of cheers, chants, boos, or even tears. Professional wrestling, like classical music, evokes an emotional response.

Many classical music pieces actually tell a story from the composers own experiences or his or her creative mindset at the time. Professional wrestling matches are but part of a story told by the wrestlers. Familiar themes of adversity, worry, determination, tears, heartbreak, and triumph occur throughout both classical music and professional wrestling.

Whether they were working in WWE, AEW, WCW, or NXT, the following professional wrestlers arrived to the ring to the tune of classical music:

Randy “Macho Man Savage”

Pomp and Circumstance – Sir Edward Elgar

The Macho Man’s choice of Elgar’s most iconic march was the perfect fit. He was larger-than-life, and this music screamed royalty. The grandeur and pageantry of those opening notes set the stage for the madness that was the “Macho Man”. It’s the perfect marriage of bombastic personality and musical bombast.

“The Nature Boy” Ric Flair

Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 I Prelude – Richard Strauss

While we usually think of this music paired with images of space from 2001: A Space Odyssey, the opening fanfare became synonymous with Flair’s extravagance. He was a master of excess: the robes, the women, the lifestyle… the music followed suit. This piece signified his arrival as the main event, and the fact that the spotlight was firmly, gloriously upon him.

Jerry “The King” Lawler

The Gates of Kiev – Modest Mussorgsky

Mussorgsky’s “Great Gates of Kiev” is a piece that builds to a climax, making it a perfect entrance choice for a fan-favorite “good guy” like Lawler. With its soaring melodies and regal nature, it conveyed Lawler’s position as the ‘King’ of his Memphis wrestling territory, even if it was a self-bestowed title.

Daniel Bryan / Bryan Danielson

Flight of the Valkyries – Richard Wagner

The raw energy of Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” was a great fit for the underdog. As someone who fought his way up from the independent scene, Bryan needed that burst of power and adrenaline. The fast-paced and relentless nature of the music reflected his work ethic and in-ring intensity.

Imperium

Symphony No. 9 in E Minor (IV. Allegro) – Antonín Dvořák

This choice fits Imperium’s serious and no-nonsense attitude. Dvořák’s final movement from his New World Symphony is powerful and dramatic. The group’s old-school European wrestling focus fits the mood of the piece, drawing from the rich traditions of European classical music to emphasize their own reverence for the history of the sport.

Ilya Dragunov

Death Waltz

I couldn’t find any information about this piece, but it is dramatic and intense, just like Dragunov himself. His wrestling style is hard-hitting, brutal, and technical. As he makes his way to the ring, he can be seen waving his arms about as though conducting a lively symphony.