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What is Shostakovich? Is it possible to understand, to grasp, to describe and explain? The West was deeply shocked at the time, not believing that such a composer was possible in such a Soviet Union. His symphonies have been recognized all over the world. In 1948, Zhdanov named Shostakovich among the main figures of the "formalist movement". This did not prevent the authorities, both before and after that, from declaring Shostakovich the winner of Stalin's and then State Prizes: until 1953, Shostakovich received the Stalin prize five times and almost won the competition for the USSR anthem...

The name of Vladimir Sofronitsky is on a par with the names of Anton Rubinstein and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Prokofiev and Shostakovich admired him, and the composer Glazunov shortly before his death called him one of the most remarkable Russian pianists... Vladimir Sofronitsky did not win international competitions, his titles are modest, and his biography is not rich in external notable events... But most importantly — a pianist of refined romantic style, Sofronitsky enjoyed a special favor of the public, which no official awards can win.