Rating: 
Summary: This book is no fake...The discrediting has been discredited
Review: Although numerous assaults have taken place against testimony, as if Dmitri Shostakovich had offered his heart on a platter in his film scores but not in the 4th quartet, _Testimony_ has managed to come out the victor amidst the barrage. In addition to the fact that Shostakovich's (or "Shostakovich's", if you skeptics prefer) words coincide so well with the music, I have read various collections of evidence pro Testimony- I think that dozens and dozens of quotations from colleagues of Shostakovich (including his daughter and son) attesting to the truthfulness of Testimony are better evidence than the pedantic date-mincing of cynics who had never met the man.With all of this further defense of the book aside, I must say that this is a fine book, and it is finer still if you will accept the words within as fact. Read all of the mud-slinging regarding Testimony first if you wish, but with all of it aside this book is a fine work of fact, and would even be a fine work of fiction. Although pedants may be quite blind to the fact, this book is rather moving, at times humourous, at times starkly observant... One who does not adore Shostakovich's music would do well to read the book, for one gains a great psychological perspective into what are merely very good works when viewed as 'absolute music'.
Rating: 
Summary: Why the testimony seems unreliable
Review: although the book is fascinating to read, i find it very amusing that throughout the introduction and preface, the editor seems desperate to convince his reader of his reliability. Sollertinsky did not have to prove his acquaintance with Shostakovich - it is common knowledge, but the only comment made of an acquaintance between the composer and Volkov is that of Irina Shostakovich, who stated that the pair only met briefly once or twice. I am currently writing an essay on this subject for my degree, any comments or suggestions would be much appreciated.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest composer of the 20th century tells all.
Review: But look, to say this is a definitive autobiography is to stretch truth to limits that one should not go to. This book may have been expressing some of Shostakovich's sentiments, but in general, most studies will argue that the book is Volkov's and Shostakovich was the vehicle by which he expressed the views. This is not necessarily the case, and some studies will argue otherwise...but it's the baggage that this book carries with it and always will...until some definitive work is published. Regardless, it's still a great read...fiction or no
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: But look, to say this is a definitive autobiography is to stretch truth to limits that one should not go to. This book may have been expressing some of Shostakovich's sentiments, but in general, most studies will argue that the book is Volkov's and Shostakovich was the vehicle by which he expressed the views. This is not necessarily the case, and some studies will argue otherwise...but it's the baggage that this book carries with it and always will...until some definitive work is published. Regardless, it's still a great read...fiction or no
Rating:
Summary: Incredible and true
Review: First let me say that this book is incredible, one of the best I have ever read, and a must for anyone who has listened to his music, or thought about the human condition. I first read this book two years ago, during an intensive research project on Shostakovich. At the same time, I looked into sources on both sides of the issue, whether Testimony is actually by DSCH or fabricated by Volkov. The evidence was overwhelmingly in favor of the position that the book is true; the one main dissenting voice included quotes from his wife saying that he never met with Volkov more than a couple times. Earlier this year, a literature teacher found an article in the New York Times, purporting to be by his wife - it was very interesting. It began by denouncing critics of Shostakovich, but then changed tune and denounced Testimony. I find it interesting that she continues to write against Testimony, while their children have been strong supporters of the truth of Testimony. Perhaps it is because she is still in the old Soviet-controlled state, while Maxim is safe in the West?
Rating:
Summary: Testimony is authentic and accurate
Review: From 1992 to 1998, Dmitry Feofanov and I thoroughly researched the authenticity and accuracy of Testimony, including conducting interviews with Solomon Volkov, Maxim and Galina Shostakovich, and many others. In a forthcoming book, Shostakovich Reconsidered (Toccata Press, 1998), we reveal how opponents of the Shostakovich memoirs have failed to report all of the facts, have taken things out of proper context, and, above all, have remained curiously silent on the wealth of information that corroborates Testimony. (Allan B. Ho)
Rating:
Summary: no more controversy...
Review: He WAS a yurodivye - a divine and crazy fox! & there ISNT a growing body of opinion that Testimony is a fraud or hoax! On the contrary, the rare film evidence of Shostakovich alive, to see him move and speak, and HIS MUSIC ITSELF easily vouch for the provenance of this harrowing book -- which is, nothing less than the epic inner life of a colossus, one of the great composer beings of any age. Testimony (AND the film based on it, by the way!) is as rich a self-revelation as you'll EVER encounter. End the controversies for yourself and READ IT. The self-drawn Man revealed-- a person of humor and fears, an excruciating man of magisterial gifts not plumbed even today, and a man of Humility. That last is important to say, because it stands and speaks winningly against the calumny which has been rehearsed like a curse over this book. Not only is Shostakovich's voice pure and penetrating, it resonates in tone and content with Vishnevskaya's intimate portrait of the man who wrote Katerina for her. And Ben Britten's personal notes are still another source of affirmation. But dont waste your time in shadows... The second movement of the First Piano Concerto is proof of this book. The Fourteenth Symphony is proof. The 15th Quartet, the ballet suites, the 3rd movement (Eternal Memory) of the 11th Symphony.... THIS is what you hear when you read Testimony. It's one of the enduring books of a lifetime, a compendium of sorrow read, in the end, only as joy. The lesson in humanity given by Shostakovich in the pages of this book HAS no price. five spiky stars times a hundred!
Rating:
Summary: no more controversy...
Review: He WAS a yurodivye - a divine and crazy fox! & there ISNT a growing body of opinion that Testimony is a fraud or hoax! On the contrary, the rare film evidence of Shostakovich alive, to see him move and speak, and HIS MUSIC ITSELF easily vouch for the provenance of this harrowing book -- which is, nothing less than the epic inner life of a colossus, one of the great composer beings of any age. Testimony (AND the film based on it, by the way!) is as rich a self-revelation as you'll EVER encounter. End the controversies for yourself and READ IT. The self-drawn Man revealed-- a person of humor and fears, an excruciating man of magisterial gifts not plumbed even today, and a man of Humility. That last is important to say, because it stands and speaks winningly against the calumny which has been rehearsed like a curse over this book. Not only is Shostakovich's voice pure and penetrating, it resonates in tone and content with Vishnevskaya's intimate portrait of the man who wrote Katerina for her. And Ben Britten's personal notes are still another source of affirmation. But dont waste your time in shadows... The second movement of the First Piano Concerto is proof of this book. The Fourteenth Symphony is proof. The 15th Quartet, the ballet suites, the 3rd movement (Eternal Memory) of the 11th Symphony.... THIS is what you hear when you read Testimony. It's one of the enduring books of a lifetime, a compendium of sorrow read, in the end, only as joy. The lesson in humanity given by Shostakovich in the pages of this book HAS no price. five spiky stars times a hundred!
Rating: 
Summary: Empire of darkness? - as you like it -
Review: I agree that Testimony involves interesting and entertaining material, but a good story can not be an excuse for fraud. Testimony, is a 'planned' attack on Soviet Union and communism, because the western world found Shostakovich too good to be in the 'empire of darkness'. One has stated that his wife opposes to Testimony while his children do not. Please do think about companies his children work with... All effort is to put Shostakovich to the 'correct' side. But I'm afraid he's not. I has just listened Symphony 1917, "Dawn of Humanity".
Rating:
Summary: Problematic - but important nonetheless
Review: Instead of flaming one another on the topic of 'Testimony' based on our political preference, we might do better looking at the quality of the text itself. Because whether it is Dmitri Shostakovich' own story or a first-person novel by Volkov, this is a deeply engrossing, chillingly emotional and intensely tragic tale about the cost of fame in the Stalin years. And whether the precise details of the story are accurate or not, I have little doubt - also based on other 'testimonies' - that in that respect this one hits the nail on the head. The matter of its relation to Shostakovich' music is more problematic. Statements often quite explicitly contradict earlier opinions by Shostakovich, even if there seems no political reason for doing this. See, for instance, his description of the first symphony. I can hardly imagine any conspiracy being at work here - there are far more explicit condemnations of the Soviet Union to be found. As a document of cultural history, this is a very important text, and anyone interested in Shostakovich, his life, and his work, will be forced to form an opinion about 'Testimony'
|
