Mitya: An Illustrated Biography of the Russian Composer Dmitri Shostakovich

By Dick Wolf

This is a story (MITYA), about a great man. It is fiction based on fact, historical fiction as it were. It tells of the formative times of the Russian composer Dmitri (MITYA) Dmitrievich SHOSTAKOVICH He lived from 1906 through 1975.
He lived through a revolution, a civil war and two World Wars. He is best known for his 15 symphonies, but he wrote all kinds of music: movie music, piano music, orchestral music, Operas, and even music for animated films.
All in all he produced over 147 different pieces. Each year more and more of his work is being recorded. His work is full of WONDER. This is an attempt to relive his story with admiration and gratitude. It is intended as a tribute to a creative genius and suffering soul.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Jan 10, 2005
• ISBN: 9781466958081

Dick Wolf

Dick Wolf, a two-time Emmy award-winning writer, producer, and creator, is the architect of one of the most successful brands in the history of television—NBC's Law & Order, one of the longest-running scripted shows. Wolf is also the creator and executive producer of Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. He has won numerous awards, including Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series (Law & Order) and Outstanding Made-for-Television Movie (Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee); a Grammy; and an Edgar. Wolf is the New York Times bestselling author of The Intercept and The Execution. The Ultimatum is the third book in his Jeremy Fisk series. He lives in Southern California.

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© Copyright 2005 Dick Wolf.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN Softcover 978-1-4120-5034-0

eBook 978-1-4669-5808-1

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TRAFFORD

PUBLISHING

Offices in Canada, USA, Ireland and UK

This book was published on-demand in cooperation with Trafford Publishing. On-demandpublishing is a unique process and service of making a book available for retail sale to thepublic taking advantage of on-demand manufacturing and Internet marketing. On-demandpublishing includes promotions, retail sales, manufacturing, order fulfilment, accounting and collecting royalties on behalf of the author.

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Contents

Prelude

Chapter One At Home

Chapter Two Threatening Clouds

Chapter Three Flight To Safety

Chapter Four A New Friend

Chapter Five At The Conservatory Of Music

Chapter Síx Birthday

Chapter Seven At The Kino

Chapter Eight Symphony Number One

Chapter Nine Poland

Chapter Ten The Twenties

Chapter Eleven Terror

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special than Ks are due to Elizabeth Kirsch whose constant and consistent help in matters both practical and inspirational have contributed to this effort beyond my powers to fully acknowledge and appreciate. Dear Beth-this is our book

Thanks as well to my wife Lois for her unflagging and loving support, το my friends and colleagues also attention must be paid. ThanKs also to Victoria BoityKhova of St. Petersburg, a genial and helpful guide.

To those who helped in reading and otherwise assisted me: Hannahlai Ansen, Bruce Clements, James Coleman, Agatha Hoover, Victor Kaplan, Elinor and Bernie MacDonald, Juliet Snowden, and Alexander Taylor, I extend my fervent thanKs.

To fellow artists and musicians Shirley Sheathelm and Cathy Wade go my special thanKs for their faithful encouragement.

This booK is in remembrance of the great "Russian city of St. Petersburg and its brave citizens.

Finally this booK is dedicated to my son Karl, whose strength and courage in the face of death maKes me so proud.

PRELUDE

Winter had come to Russia. Saint-Petersburg was shrouded in A soft but ominous gray mist. Few people ventured outside onto The icy cold streets. Just the noises of horse traffic on the wet Snow and here and there a street vendor’s cries were heard. It Was 1915 and the war with Germany was still far away.

The apartment of the Shostakovich family was a warm and peaceful Place. In the spacious living room nine year old Mitya and his mother Were busy practicing at the grand piano.

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CHAPTER ONE

AT HOME

Too loud, Mitya, you play too loud. Too fast, Mitya, you play too fast. This piano is afraid of you.

Mitya giggled. Suddenly, he saw in his mind’s eye, that big black box, the piano running away. Whenever he giggled like this, Mitya lost his concentration. So the piano rushed out the apartment door, down the stone stairway, out the front door, onto the main street, and far off into the morning mist.

This big piano, stuffed with music, its white ivory and black ebony teeth gleaming, rushed ahead. Over the bridges, on its short spindly legs it streaked down the main street, the Nevsky Prospekt. At a furious pace, it passed movie houses, comedy theaters and the city-block-long department store. Huffing and puffing, it snuck by the piano works. It slipped slowly past the