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Listen to the Georgian violinist Lisa Batiashvili talk about the music and story of Shostakovich / WRTI Radio

Twentieth-century Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich composed much of his work under the shadow of political oppression. The composer wrote his first violin concerto in 1947 and 1948, but the Soviet government was again cracking down on arts and culture considered anti-Soviet, and didn't schedule the premiere for seven years after Stalin had died. 

As WRTI's Susan Lewis reports, today, his music and his personal story continue to inspire a new generation. This Sunday, July 12 at 1 pm on WRTI, Georgian violinist Lisa Batiashvili performs Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 on The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcast. Batiashvili was born four years after Shostakovich died, but was introduced to the composer and his story as a young child.

Listen to the violinist talk with WRTI: Philadelphia - Susan Lewis about how the music and story of Shostakovich has influenced her - while she was growing up and in her career.