Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich was one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. But in 1936, Joseph Stalin attended a performance of Shostakovich’s opera, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. The Soviet leader was unimpressed and left early. Shostakovich was blacklisted from public life, and feared for his safety during Stalin’s ongoing purges. His comeback, Symphony No 5 in 1937 was a big hit with the authorities but his true intentions are hugely debated – some experts argue the Fifth Symphony

A new documentary about Shostakovich has been released this month to mark the 50th anniversary of the composer's death. "Dimitri Chostakovitch, symphonie en rouge" is written and directed by Jérôme Lambert and Philippe Picard, produced by Un film à la patte, in co-production with Arte France and the Orchestre national d’Île-de-France with Semyon Bychkov It examines the life and work of the innovative Russian composer, who left a breathtaking body of work. | History of Music