Shostakovich Sonata No. 2 Mov 3 Finale. Valentina Lisitsa

...continues from 1st and 2nd movement video.
The last movement, a finale. Those words have more meaning here than in many other sonatas, with Chopin B Flat minor a n only possible similarity.
This movement is a set of variations , written on a very simple, folk-song like theme. This opening theme is for one hand only - an ultimate expression of loneliness and desolation in music. A set of variations follows the theme, some -maniacally busy and high-strung , some -- solemn and grave. Few last ones are worth our particular attention to listen to . Just like in other movements -- everything is in minor key and ANY sign of major( usually a symbol of something nicer, happier , gentler in music ) pierces the music like a ray of a bloodied sunrise on an eve of a storm. We get more and more "major" - @ 5':20" when octaves in left hand are decidedly major, then @ 6':00".... Then, @ 7:00" we enter the final agony in the drama of life. This variation is hauntingly similar to "dotted" variation from Schumann's Symphonic Etudes. This repeated dotted rhythm is like a heartbeat , heavy , boomy...halting, weakening.
This variation is probably most powerful and graphic depiction of death , of actual dying and death . Eventually everything transforms into vibrant, shining major key ( @ 10':19") and comes to a complete, final, stop . Death comes in scillinating major here -- but it doesn't sound nearly as a promise of paradise awaiting, rather a complete resignation and making peace with everybody and everything, complete cessation of life passion and struggle. The only thing left for onlookers is a brief prayer ( @ 10':30") and one final act of kindness to what was once a leaving , breathing human -- closing one's eyes ( a truly chilling moment at 10':57"). Then there is a gaping silence .... And , life returns back to its daily, almost banal pace -- for everybody else of course , while we bury our dead ( 12':30").
The end.