A telephone call from Joseph Stalin to Dmitri Shostakovitch in the middle of the night during the 1920s – think Bob Newhart’s telephone comedy routines.
Stalin: “Dmitri – This is Joseph – Joseph Stalin. How are you this evening? I saw your new opera last night – too many notes Dmitri – too much dissonance and what is it with these twelve tones? – You are our national hero composer. I should think you would write for the workers Dmitri – a music for the people. Are you with me on this? You continue being creative – release your genius for the people – do we see eye to eye on this Dmitri? Anymore dissonance and I’ll have you shot and if it’s atonal I’ll shoot you twice. Good night Dmitri – pleasant dreams.”……..this is not funny but accurately conveys Stalin’s intimidation of artists during his years as leader of the Soviets.