Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) - photo 1
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) - photo 2
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) - photo 3
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) - photo 4
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) - photo 5
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) - photo 6
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) - photo 7
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) - photo 8
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) - photo 9
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) - photo 10

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Lot 256
15.12.2023 11:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
£ 100
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1109056
Lot 256 | Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)
Estimate value
£ 10 000 – 15 000
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)
Eleven autograph letters signed ('D. Shostakovich') to the conductor Samuil Abramovich Samosud, Leningrad and Gaspra (Crimea), 1939 - 1941
In Russian. Together 16 pages, various sizes, including three musical quotations. Provenance: Sotheby's, 3 & 4 December 1992, lot 612.

On his re-orchestration of Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov. The letters everywhere show the deep influence of Mussorgsky on Shostakovich, noting the parts of the opera which leave a particular mark on him (notably Shuisky's account of the dead Tsarevich), discussing the variances of Rimsky-Korsakov's edition from Mussorgsky's original text and the two different versions of Act 2 and parts of Act 3 in the original, discussing which of the two is preferable, and asking for Samosud's advice on the orchestral balance in the new version, for example in the glorification of Boris by Suisky in Act I: 'It is essential for trumpets to sound loud (FF) but then Shuisky will not be heard. If the sound of the trumpets is significantly lowered to about mp then it will sound very bad. What if the Chorus were to sing this phrase "Long live Tsar Boris Feodorovich" instead of Shuisky? Then the trumpets can play brightiy and loudly and the "Long live ..." will be heard'.

'Regarding the whole opera, I remain convinced that Mussorgsky's version is better than Rimsky-Korsakov's. On this point our tastes evidently differ. I beg you not to conclude at once that both the music and the orchestration (mine) in the Fountain-scene are bad ... I think that you, having conducted R-K's edition in your time, have got used to the Fountain [scene], and a certain asceticism in Mussorgsky and in my orchestration will shock you' (13 April 1941)

Shostakovich identified closely with Mussorgsky as a musical predecessor, and apparently kept a portrait of him on his desk. His re-orchestration of Boris Godunov was commissioned by Samuil Samosud (1884-1964), the musical director of the Bolshoi Theatre, and completed in June 1940, although because of the wartime conditions it was not performed until 1959. His orchestration increased the role of the woodwind and especially brass instruments in relation to Mussorgsky's original, reflecting his analysis that Mussorgky was successful with solo instrumental timbres, but showed weakness in louder passages for full orchestra.
Place of origin:Russia
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
09.12.2023 12:00 – 17:00
10.12.2023 12:00 – 17:00
11.12.2023 09:00 – 20:00
12.12.2023 09:00 – 17:00
13.12.2023 09:00 – 17:00
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.
?>