Symphony Nr. 5

Dmitri Shostakovich composed his Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47 between April and July 1937. Its first performance was on November 21, 1937, in Leningrad by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. The premiere was a huge success, and received an ovation that lasted well over half an hour.

The finale of the 'Fifth Symphony', which has been called grandiose, has remained the topic of continual discussion revolving around the question, "Is it a Stalinist victory hymn or is it a parody of one?" Anyway the 'Fifth Symphony' and even more the final movement has become one of Shostakovich most well known works.