Dmitri Shostakovich's 7th symphony premiers in a besieged Leningrad.

Dmitri Shostakovich

Soviet composer and pianist (1906–1975)

Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist who became internationally known after the premiere of his First Symphony in 1926 and thereafter was regarded as a major composer.

Leningrad première of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7

Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 had its Leningrad première on 9 August 1942 during the Second World War, while the city was under siege by the Nazi German forces.

Siege of Leningrad

Blockade by the Axis powers, 1941–1944

The siege of Leningrad was a military blockade undertaken by the Axis powers against the city of Leningrad in the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front of World War II from 1941 to 1944. Leningrad, the country's second largest city, was besieged by Germany and Finland for 872 days,…

August 9

Day of the year

August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 144 days remain until the end of the year.