Music: Shosty's Potboiler

Russia's Dmitry Shostakovich, 51, is one of the 20th century's most gifted composers, but that has not kept Soviet politicians from pounding him like a bass drum. In the '30s and '40s Communist officials let him have it fortissimo for writing music that failed to trace a melodic line straight to the heart of the average Russian. Composer Shostakovich has long since recanted his sins and been allowed once again to sing for his supper. The song he sang last week, his brand-new Eleventh Symphony, was supposed to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Russian Revolution. Actually, it was dedicated...

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