The Story Behind Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony

No piece of music is as important to St Petersburg as is the Leningrad Symphony. It was a weapon of peace that for just over an hour put the war happening around Leningrad to a halt, bringing hope to the citizens of the besieged city.

The birth of a masterpiece

The birth of the symphony did not come under ordinary circumstances. Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) began his work in 1941 as war had once again engulfed the world. The composer was then in Leningrad, the former name of St Petersburg, his home city. The war and the oncoming siege of the city inspired him to return to a previously abandoned work – he had already made plans for the Symphony in the past. The first three parts of the work appeared quickly. Like many other musicians, Shostakovich lived within the halls of the Leningrad Philharmonic and worked continuously, taking only occasional breaks for food. Soon after the completion of the second part, Leningrad was completely surrounded. The final, fourth part, was completed later, after Shostakovich had been evacuated to the city of Kuybyshev, now known as Samara. There, the work was completed and premiered for a group of musicians.

The premiere in Leningrad

A powerful performance

The performance was scheduled for August 9, 1942. Despite the danger of being spotted from the air, the grand hall of the Philharmonic was completely lit up by candles. The hall was also completely full with both soldiers and citizens of the city. Artillery forces were commanded to protect the city from airstrikes. For those not present inside, the performance was transmitted live via loudspeaker. The music spread across the whole city, so far that even the German soldiers on the front line could hear it. The music played to the background noise of the war happening outside, but the orchestra managed to complete the whole Symphony from start to finish; it was greeted with a standing ovation. This performance is remembered by all who heard it, and some would say that was the day they knew the war would be won.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.