Malcolm E. Brown the famed British musicologist has declared Volkov's "Testimony" to have no claim to authenticity. The original manuscript has never been published (it is in Russian). Those who knew Shostakovich would know that what Volkov has Shostakovich say would not be in the "voice" of Shostakovich. Volkov was born in 1944, whereas Shostakovich was born on 1906. They only met about 3 times and were not close friends. It is highly unlikely that Shostakovich would confide to an mere acquaintance who was 38 years younger then himself. Volkov went to USA in 1976, with "Testimony", a supposed biography published in 1979; where it would find a ready market. Volkov wrote his "biography" after the death of Shostakovich (in 1975); and has added more since then, but will not allow the original manuscripts to be examined. Let Shostakovich's music speak for itself.
@BrucknerMotet4 жыл бұрын
I trust Isaac glickman's letters of Shostakovich to glean more authentic information about is feelings positions desires friendships Etc including of course fears and pains and worries
@lucasgust772010 ай бұрын
Maxim, Shostakovich's son, said that everything "Testimony" says is true.
@LynnNeumann10 жыл бұрын
A very fine film, with an excellent performance by Ben Kingsley. Many thanks to the uploader for uploading!
@smulla00113 жыл бұрын
The composer's son bears witness to the truth and authenticity of Testimony. Volkov's credibility as the authentic conveyor of the composers thoughts and words is hard to challenge with any facts. Testimony displays a whole man and a whole life, warts and all. If the intention was to turn the composer into a saint, it failed utterly.
@chazinko5 жыл бұрын
The actual content of "Testimony" is what makes it worth reading and it is a worthwhile read.
@wcsxwcsx8 жыл бұрын
I've wanted to see this movie again for so long, and it's not on Netflix. But musicin37 and KZbin have come through. Thanks!
@fgldnglbs14 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I saw a chunk of this movie years ago It's not often the life of a composer is the subject of a film. This one has pulled me in so far since he lived in interesting times n the Chinese sense of the word. Since that partial viewing, , I've heard a great deal of Shostakovich's music. Haitink/RCO's version of the 5th Symphony is in Tom Moon's "1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die." It's the version he should have lived to hear.
@123must11 жыл бұрын
Beautiful upload ! Thanks a lot
@AeolianMusica12 жыл бұрын
"He said that his symphonies are tombstones." This quote is recorded in Testimony, so how can we be sure he even said this? How can we 'understand' him better when we don't even know whether or not the basis for the opinions we form about him is factual or not?
@DamonF10 жыл бұрын
I am in this film. True story.
@AlanHemenway12 жыл бұрын
It was reported by Rostropovich as reported in one of the record review magazines.
@PACOYOUT12 жыл бұрын
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich (25 September 1906 - 9 August 1975) ♬
@ebolamunkee13 жыл бұрын
One can accept both that Shostakovich wasn't an unconditional supporter of the Soviet government and that Volkov is a fraud. I've never understood why people think of these as contradictory ideas.
@stmml0214 жыл бұрын
I'm with @darinraychev! I've been trying to find a download, but I can't.
@Timrath13 жыл бұрын
@katar1i It's Chopin's Funeral March.
@emmanuelledupuis81967 жыл бұрын
Y-a-t'il une version avec des stitres en français? Merci.
@juliamansilla58088 жыл бұрын
Que alguien ponga substitutos en español a esta película, por favor.
@hectorfprez9 жыл бұрын
In 1:00 is Khatchaturian ?
@Cludnugget13 жыл бұрын
1 Dislike. Must've been Stalin...
@andysleak14 жыл бұрын
Don't talk nonsense, it's an excellent film. Read Volkov again and try to understand.
@AlanHemenway12 жыл бұрын
The book is merely sarcastic humor about life under the Communist Russian system. I only made it through half the book for it's boredom. The movie is hardly a reflection of the book and I don't see how Volkov rates as being a consultant to the movie or his book having any reference as being the basis for this movie. Some people call the book a falsification... who cares? We understand Shostakovich better because of this movie. He said that his symphonies are tombstones.
@TheNewFlutist13 жыл бұрын
I don't get why Volkov would waste his time making up the stuff written in the book Testimony. Some could be fake, but some that's written in there is absolutely too unique to be fake.
@BrucknerMotet11 жыл бұрын
Barshai said it was all true.
@ipjbannon13 жыл бұрын
Utter crap. Very disappointed; (no offence to the fellow who posted this). The commentary of 'Dead Shostakovich' doesn't even correlate with his manner of speaking. D.S was never so 'sarcastic' in tone. His wit was far more deadpan and subtle; and more staccato, to the point. I should also point out that Volkov's 'Testimony' was a book ABOUT Shostakovich, not BY him. I am quite happy to take the book on this premise. Despite the controversy, I see no errant fraud at work.