Who Is Dmitri Shostakovich? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Born on September 25, 1906, Dmitri Shostakovich remains one of the most influential Soviet composers and pianists in music history. He passed away on August 9, 1975, at the age of 68, leaving a significant mark on classical music with his powerful compositions that reflected the cultural and political landscape of his time. In 2025, we reflect on his legacy and continued relevance in the world of classical music.
| Occupation | Musicians |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 25, 1906 |
| Age | 68 Years |
| Birth Place | Saint Petersburg, Russia |
| Horoscope | Libra |
| Country | Russia |
| Date of death | 9 August, 1975 |
| Died Place | Moscow, Soviet Union |
Popularity
Dmitri Shostakovich's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While there are no official records of Shostakovich's physical measurements, it is commonly noted that he had an average height and build. His artistic persona far outweighed any physical specifications, with his talent resonating through his music and compositions rather than his physical presence.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Dmitri Shostakovich was married twice throughout his life. His first marriage was to Nina Varzar in 1929, with whom he had two children. Their relationship, like many of Shostakovich's endeavors, was complex and shaped by the challenges of living in Soviet Russia. After their divorce in 1932, he married his second wife, Irina Supinsky, in 1936, who remained by his side until his death. Despite the significant pressures of his career and political climate, his relationships contributed to both his personal and artistic development.
Shostakovich achieved early fame in the Soviet Union, but had a complex relationship with its government. His 1934 opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk was initially a success but later condemned by the Soviet government, putting his career at risk.
In 1948, his work was denounced under the Zhdanov Doctrine, with professional consequences lasting several years. Even after his censure was rescinded in 1956, performances of his music were occasionally subject to state interventions, as with his Thirteenth Symphony (1962).
Nevertheless, Shostakovich was a member of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR (1947) and the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union (from 1962 until his death), as well as chairman of the RSFSR Union of Composers (1960–1968). Over the course of his career, he earned several important awards, including the Order of Lenin, from the Soviet government.
Net Worth and Salary
Estimating Dmitri Shostakovich's net worth in 2025 reveals that the income he earned during his lifetime, along with continual royalties from his works, would place his net worth in the millions. Given the timeless nature of his music, earnings from performances, recordings, and adaptations continue to flow, reflecting the enduring popularity of his compositions.
The Pravda campaign against Shostakovich caused his commissions and concert appearances, and performances of his music, to decline markedly. His monthly earnings dropped from an average of as much as 12,000 rubles to as little as 2,000.
Career, Business, and Investments
Dmitri Shostakovich’s career spanned several decades, characterized by a wide array of compositions ranging from symphonies to operas and chamber music. He composed his first symphony at the young age of 19, propelling him into the limelight. His music, often marked by innovation and emotional depth, faced scrutiny under the Soviet regime, which required artists to align with state-approved styles.
In addition to his compositions, Shostakovich also contributed to the formation of music theory and education in the Soviet Union. He held various teaching positions and was involved in the Soviet music business. His ability to navigate the intricacies of political pressures while maintaining artistic integrity cements his legacy as a significant figure in the world of music.
Born into a Russian family that lived on Podolskaya Street in Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire, Shostakovich was the second of three children of Dmitri Boleslavovich Shostakovich and Sofiya Vasilievna Kokoulina.
Shostakovich's immediate forebears came from Siberia, but his paternal grandfather, Bolesław Szostakowicz, was of Polish Catholic descent, tracing his family roots to the region of the town of Vileyka in today's Belarus.
A Polish revolutionary in the January uprising of 1863–64, Szostakowicz was exiled to Narym in 1866 in the crackdown that followed Dmitry Karakozov's assassination attempt on Tsar Alexander II. When his term of exile ended, Szostakowicz decided to remain in Siberia. He eventually became a successful banker in Irkutsk and raised a large family.
He then went to work as an engineer under Dmitri Mendeleev at the Bureau of Weights and Measures in Saint Petersburg. In 1903, he married another Siberian immigrant to the capital, Sofiya Vasilievna Kokoulina, one of six children born to a Siberian Russian.
Social Network
Though Dmitri Shostakovich did not partake in social media as it exists today, his influence permeates various platforms dedicated to classical music and arts. Social networks, such as Facebook and Instagram, continue to celebrate his compositions and share information about performances, tributes, and events, ensuring that his legacy lives on for future generations.
Natan Perelman, who heard Shostakovich play his Chopin programs before he went to Warsaw, said that his "anti-sentimental" playing, which eschewed rubato and extreme dynamic contrasts, was unlike anything he had ever heard. Arnold Alschwang called Shostakovich's playing "profound and lacking any salon-like mannerisms."
Education
Shostakovich's musical education began early, taking piano lessons and studying composition at the Petrograd Conservatory. His educational background laid a strong foundation for his significant contributions to classical music. At the conservatory, he developed skills that would later allow him to innovate within the genre, culminating in a storied career that would influence future composers.
Shostakovich's musical breakthrough was the First Symphony, written as his graduation piece at the age of 19. Initially Shostakovich aspired to perform it only privately with the conservatory orchestra, and prepared to conduct the scherzo himself.
By late 1925 Malko agreed to conduct its premiere with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra after Steinberg and Shostakovich's friend Boleslav Yavorsky brought the symphony to his attention. On 12 May 1926, Malko led the premiere of the symphony; the audience received it enthusiastically, demanding an encore of the scherzo.
Thereafter, Shostakovich regularly celebrated the date of his symphonic debut.
