The history of Soviet music cannot be discussed without mentioning the Decree of 1948 and the anti-Formalist campaign that followed. Dmitri Shostakovich was one of a select number of Soviet composers who were denounced by this powerful document. After its publication, several of Shostakovich’s compositions were banned from performance, he temporarily lost his job at […]

The unofficial theme for the Concert of Traditional Korean Music and Dances (Концерт традиционной корейской музыки и танцев) seemed to be one of “why not?” And the question was a good one. After all, it would be difficult to find a valid enough excuse to pass up a free, early evening Saturday concert in the […]