Symphony No. 1

Dedication: Mikhail Vladimirovich Kvadri
Duration: 33'

Premiere: May 12, 1926 in the Great Hall of the Leningrad Philharmonia. Performed by the Symphony Orchestra of the Leningrad Philharmonia. Conductor N. Malko.
Premieres abroad:
November 22, 1927 Berlin. Conductor Bruno Walter.
November 2, 1928 Philadelphia. Conductor L. Stokowski.
December 26, 1930 Chicago. Conductor F. Stock.
April 8, 1931 New York. Conductor А. Toscanini.

"A. Glazunov, who is usually very benign at exams for performers and loved giving top marks, was very strict when examining composers, he was demanding, fussy even... When I showed Glazunov the beginning of my first symphony (arranged for four hands), he was unhappy about some of the harmonies he regarded as dissonant in the introduction, after the opening phrases of the muted trumpet. He insisted that I amend that part and suggested his version for the harmony.
I, of course, did not dare to argue: my respect and affection for Glazunov were far too great and his authority was indisputable for me. Later on, though, just before the performance of the symphony by an orchestra and before the score was printed I put my own harmonies back after all, which did not please Glazunov".

D. Shostakovich, "My Alma Mater", "Sovietskaya Muzyka", 1962, No.9

"The first symphony... played an important role in my life as a composer. The symphony was well received by the public and by musicians. Its reception, however, among Contemporary Music Association circles was cool
in the extreme. Its success helped to convince me that I should take up composition seriously.
In that symphony I made an attempt to express profound ideas, and although the work was immature in many respects, what was worthwhile about it from my point of view was the sincere endeavour to convey life, reality."

D. Shostakovich, "Thoughts about the Road behind Me", "Sovietskaya muzyka", 1956, No.9

"The first symphony... played an important role in my life as a composer. The symphony was well received by the public and by musicians. Its reception, however, among Contemporary Music Association circles was cool
in the extreme. Its success helped to convince me that I should take up composition seriously.
In that symphony I made an attempt to express profound ideas, and although the work was immature in many respects, what was worthwhile about it from my point of view was the sincere endeavour to convey life, reality."

D. Shostakovich, "Thoughts about the Road behind Me", "Sovietskaya muzyka", 1956, No.9

Symphony No 1, op. 10

1. Allegretto—Allegro non troppo
2. Allegro
3. Lento—Largo attaca
4. Lento—Allegro molto—Adagio—Largo—Presto

Shostakovich finished his First Symphony, Op. 10, in the summer of 1925 and presented it as his graduation thesis upon completion of the composition theory course at the conservatory. The fair copy of the author’s manuscript1 was dated (on the last page) 1 July 1925.
  At the beginning of December 1924, the first two movements of the symphony were ready.
  Shostakovich did not begin composing the slow movement any earlier than mid-December. On 14 December, the composer told Oborin: “Now I am getting ready to start the Andante, but I don’t have enough inspiration as yet,” and on 15 January 1925, he wrote: “I have finished the symphonic Andante. Now the finale remains”.
  After completion of the third movement, there was a long break. He did not tell Oborin about beginning work on the finale until 17 April.
  By the beginning of May, the finale was ready.
  On 6 May 1925, the symphony was performed on two pianos by the composer and his fellow student Pavel Feldt at an exam for M.O. Steinberg’s class in the office of the conservatory rector, Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov.
  On 12 May 1926, the premiere of the symphony took place in the Grand Hall of the Leningrad Philharmonic. The symphony orchestra of the Leningrad Philharmonic was conducted by Nikolai Malko. The symphony was extremely successful, and at the audience’s request, the second movement of the symphony was played again.