The intimate letters of Dimitri Shostakovich will come under the spotlight in the second concert of the series Intimate Letters on Thursday in the Sala Isouard of the Manoel Theatre.

Entitled “Shostakovich – a political liaison”, it will explore the relationship between this great composer and the Russian leader, namely Stalin, who determined and moulded the cultural aesthetics of the country. Shostakovich’s music represents a challenge to listeners that is unique, in part because of the compelling power of his greatest works and the tremendous different opinions about his music. The qualities of the music and its historical contexts have given rise to highly contested interpretations. Yet, more than a quarter-century after his death, Shostakovich has emerged as one of the most influential and popular composers of the 20th century.

Two of his most popular chamber works will be performed on Thursday. The Piano Quintet Op.57 is remarkable for its success. At the time of its premiere, the work was received with enormous acclaim both from critics and the general public; in fact, it was held up as “a portrait of our age... the rich-toned, perfect voice of the present” by one of Moscow’s regime-friendly newspapers.

In stark contrast, the String Quartet No 8 in C minor, was written shortly after two traumatic events: when the composer was diagnosed with myelitis, and his joining the Communist Party. The work is one of his most private and in a letter to Isaak Glikman he described it as “an ideologically deficient quartet nobody needs... It is a pseudo-tragic quartet, so much so that while I was composing it I shed the same amount of tears as I would have to pee after half-a-dozen beers”.

Interpreting these works will be Caroline Calleja on the piano and the ProMuzika ensemble made up of violinists Sarah Spiteri and Roberta Attard who will be joined by two Russian musicians; Vladyslav Beliavskyi – viola and Yaroslav Mikluho – cello.

Intimate Letters is a St James Cavalier production in association with Novartis. Camilleri Wines, BOV, Go Mobile, Vascas and Portomaso also support the series.

Tickets at Lm6 and Lm3 (concession) are available from the St James Cavalier booking office on 2122 3200 and the Manoel Theatre booking office 2122 2618