Mieczysław Weinberg

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David Fanning's book offers the first comprehensive account of Weinberg's life and works. Utilizing unpublished materials from family archives and personal memories of those close to him, it chronicles the journey of a composer who dedicated himself to music amidst significant challenges, honoring those who did not survive to enjoy his hard-won freedom. Mieczysław Weinberg (1919–96) narrowly escaped the Nazis twice: first in 1939 from Warsaw to Minsk, and then in 1941 to Tashkent. He settled in Moscow in 1943, where he gained recognition as one of the USSR's leading composers, forming a lasting bond of respect with Shostakovich. His symphonies, string quartets, and concertos were supported by renowned artists such as Oistrakh and Rostropovich, and he remained grateful to his adopted homeland for his opportunities. However, his freedom came with challenges; he faced the anti-formalism campaigns of the late 1940s and was arrested in 1953 for 'bourgeois Jewish nationalism.' His release followed Stalin's death, and although his health suffered, he continued to compose prolifically. In his later years, he was largely overlooked in Russia, but his deeply humane music has experienced a remarkable revival in the West, especially his operas like The Passenger, which stands as a significant tribute to Auschwitz.