Festive Overture, Op. 96 - DHP0960795 | Musica

Festive Overture was composed in 1954 to commemorate the 37th birthday of the October Revolution of 1917. With this overture Shostakovich shows his brighter side, in contrast to his melancholy 10th symphony written in the previous year. The premiere of this piece took place on November 6, 1954 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Shostakovich makes great use of different themes which he alternates and intermingles in a masterly way. This skilful transcription by Tohru Takahashi retains all the grandeur of the original.