Lower 6 (year 12) student Cesca reviewed a lecture given by Deputy Head, Mr Richards, Head of Sixth Form, Mr Stephenson and History teacher Miss Robertson.
On Friday 20th of May, the Lower 6 were treated to an absolutely fabulous triple-threat lecture lead by Mr Richards, Miss Robertson and Mr Stephenson, based on the work of Dmitri Shostakovich, a Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist. With all three teachers excelling in different areas, their work collated to form a wonderful lecture filled with topics such as Quotation and Integration, Rossini and Wagner, Stalin, Leningrad, Fire Service, Football, Film, Denunciation and Obsession.
Mr Richard’s began the lecture with a bang, focusing on Shostakovich’s earliest and most well known pieces, such as Lady Macbeth, shedding light on the controversy and scathing reactions that this work produced. Passing the baton onto Miss Robertson, we listened to her account of the harsh and horrifying tales of the conditions and experiences of the city of Leningrad, whilst under the hard-line communist rule of Josef Stalin. And finally, with a slightly unexpected twist, Mr Stephenson decided to focus on Shostakovich’s passion and love for the sport of football, something which the two of them have in common.
Whilst not a talented football player himself, Shostakovich found great joy in the sport and indeed it offered an escape for the harsh realities of life in soviet Russia, post World War One. Having little to no knowledge of this incredibly talented man before, the lecture was utterly eye-opening and nothing short of fascinating. Mr Richard’s, Miss Roberson and Mr Stephenson not only provided and entirely well-researched and interesting lecture, but also one that was original and unique in the best way possible!
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