Michael Bates: Acrobat: Music for, and by, Dmitri Shostakovich

"Few can listen to the musical spectacle of Dmitri Shostakovich and expect to forget it. In his world everything is a paradox. The grotesque mixing with elegance and dissonance, anger and humor, serenity and sarcasm. ... It's easy to find many stories of just how dangerous it was to be a Russian composer in the age of Stalin. How Shostakovich managed to compose and show such creative tenacity under these circumstances is an inspiration and his music leaves an imprint that few others have. So with gratitude, this is a set composed with these thoughts in mind, and an improviser's take on some of his themes. I take full responsibility for any and all transgressions" (CD notes by Michael Bates).

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