Exploring orchestral works of the 20th century. Charismatic Russian conductor Valery Gergiev explores one of the great cultural documents of Stalinist Russia, Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony: A Soviet Artist's Reply to Just Criticism. Written under the shadow of state oppression at the height of Stalin's purges, the symphony re-established Shostakovich as an ideologically sound Soviet composer and remains one of the most popular of all 20th century symphonies. Show less