When music becomes a historic event

[relm1]

Sometimes a musical premiere has such significance that the audience in attendance know they are witnessing history.  I was watching a documentary on Shostakovich mentioned over on his thread and it got me thinking how those who were at the premiere of his Symphony No. 7 spoke about that experience as being unforgettable. 

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 premiered in Leningrad/Stalingrad on March 5, 1942 and was met with widespread acclaim as a symbol of resistance against the Nazi siege. The premiere had immense emotional and cultural impact taking place in the besieged city with musicians assembled under extraordinary circumstances and became a global symbol of resilience, garnering international attention and bolstering Allied solidarity. 

What do you think is the most recent premiere of a new work where those in attendance knew they were experiencing a historically significant event that resonated with them for its historical/cultural/emotional significance?  Or perhaps the age of music having this kind of sweeping impact is gone and no longer possible (eg: Shostakovich Symphony No. 7 premiere was a perfect storm of situations not possible anymore)?  If no longer possible, what would need to happen for a work to have this level of impact?

[AnotherSpin]

Russians have an unparalleled talent for using classical music as a propaganda tool. Take, for example, the grand spectacle in occupied Tskhinvali (Georgia) in 2008 or the triumphant performance in Palmyra (Syria) in 2016, both graciously conducted by none other than Gergiev himself. One can only imagine the meticulous planning that must have gone into organizing a similar show in Kyiv in the spring of 2022, perhaps even with the same maestro. Alas, something didn't quite go according to the scenario...  

[DavidW]

Penderecki's Resurrection Concerto was revised to remember 9/11 and the premiere concert also saw his Threnody performed. There is no way that the audience would not be aware of the significance of the concert.

https://www.eamdc.com/news/new-version-of-krzysztof-pendereckis-emresurrectionem-piano-concerto-in-world-premiere-at-cincinnati-symphony-orchestra/

[André]

John Corigliano's first symphony, Of Rage and Remembrance was composed in 1988 and premiered in 1990 at the height of the AIDS epidemic, while he was composer-in-residence of the Chicago Symphony. Chief Conductor George Solti declined to learn the work, so the performances were entrusted to Daniel Barenboim. It caused quite a stir, helping to raise awareness of the loss of thousands of human lives.

Throughout the 1980s AIDS was viewed as 'the gay plague' - divine retribution. Corigliano's work did not change that overnight but it was part of a movement that helped medical and political authorities focus on prevention, medical treatment as well as bring compassion to the narrative.

[Mandryka]

Sometimes a musical premiere has such significance that the audience in attendance know they are witnessing history.  I was watching a documentary on Shostakovich mentioned over on his thread and it got me thinking how those who were at the premiere of his Symphony No. 7 spoke about that experience as being unforgettable. 

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 premiered in Leningrad/Stalingrad on March 5, 1942 and was met with widespread acclaim as a symbol of resistance against the Nazi siege. The premiere had immense emotional and cultural impact taking place in the besieged city with musicians assembled under extraordinary circumstances and became a global symbol of resilience, garnering international attention and bolstering Allied solidarity. 

What do you think is the most recent premiere of a new work where those in attendance knew they were experiencing a historically significant event that resonated with them for its historical/cultural/emotional significance?  Or perhaps the age of music having this kind of sweeping impact is gone and no longer possible (eg: Shostakovich Symphony No. 7 premiere was a perfect storm of situations not possible anymore)?  If no longer possible, what would need to happen for a work to have this level of impact?

The premiere of The Death of Klinghoffer caused a big political kerfuffle.

[DaveF]

Revolution was very much in the air in 1830s and 40s Europe - a performance of Auber's Muette de Portici caused a riot in Brussels in which government buildings were stormed, and Verdi's operas were also accompanied by freedom demonstrations - the occupying Austrian powers forbade encores in opera houses for that reason, which didn't stop multiple repeats of Va pensiero at the premiere of Nabucco.

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 premiered in Leningrad/Stalingrad on March 5, 1942

The 1942 premiere was actually in Samara, then called Kuibyshev, to where Shostakovich was evacuated.  (The Leningrad premiere took place the following year.)  And Stalingrad? - I can't imagine any music was played there during the war, since it was almost completely destroyed.  None of which at all affects an excellent thread idea.

[relm1]

John Corigliano's first symphony, Of Rage and Remembrance was composed in 1988 and premiered in 1990 at the height of the AIDS epidemic, while he was composer-in-residence of the Chicago Symphony. Chief Conductor George Solti declined to learn the work, so the performances were entrusted to Daniel Barenboim. It caused quite a stir, helping to raise awareness of the loss of thousands of human lives.

Throughout the 1980s AIDS was viewed as 'the gay plague' - divine retribution. Corigliano's work did not change that overnight but it was part of a movement that helped medical and political authorities focus on prevention, medical treatment as well as bring compassion to the narrative.

That is an interesting analogous work. I'd imagine with Shostakovich 7, they knew right away this was their fight song but in other cases, it might have been a slow burn.

[relm1]

Revolution was very much in the air in 1830s and 40s Europe - a performance of Auber's Muette de Portici caused a riot in Brussels in which government buildings were stormed, and Verdi's operas were also accompanied by freedom demonstrations - the occupying Austrian powers forbade encores in opera houses for that reason, which didn't stop multiple repeats of Va pensiero at the premiere of Nabucco.
The 1942 premiere was actually in Samara, then called Kuibyshev, to where Shostakovich was evacuated.  (The Leningrad premiere took place the following year.)  And Stalingrad? - I can't imagine any music was played there during the war, since it was almost completely destroyed.  None of which at all affects an excellent thread idea.

Thanks!  And thanks for the history lesson. 

[Irons]

Small beer compared with historical events above. However, the Berg Violin Concerto had a pretty significant premiere. Held at Barcelona in 1936 on the cusp of the Spanish Civil War, the concerto was to be Berg's last completed work. In the audience a young Benjamin Britten was so overwhelmed finding the experience "shattering" and was later to be the template for his own concerto.   

[relm1]

Small beer compared with historical events above. However, the Berg Violin Concerto had a pretty significant premiere. Held at Barcelona in 1936 on the cusp of the Spanish Civil War, the concerto was to be Berg's last completed work. In the audience a young Benjamin Britten was so overwhelmed finding the experience "shattering" and was later to be the template for his own concerto.   

Sometimes a new work is immediately impactful to the masses, sometimes only to a handful of individuals who take it run with it giving it life in new and unexpected ways. 

[lordlance]

Revolution was very much in the air in 1830s and 40s Europe - a performance of Auber's Muette de Portici caused a riot in Brussels in which government buildings were stormed, and Verdi's operas were also accompanied by freedom demonstrations - the occupying Austrian powers forbade encores in opera houses for that reason, which didn't stop multiple repeats of Va pensiero at the premiere of Nabucco.
The 1942 premiere was actually in Samara, then called Kuibyshev, to where Shostakovich was evacuated.  (The Leningrad premiere took place the following year.)  And Stalingrad? - I can't imagine any music was played there during the war, since it was almost completely destroyed.  None of which at all affects an excellent thread idea.

Are you saying that the premiere of the Seventh Symphony in Leningrad itself didn't have much of the work performed?