DVD 7307 THE RED BATON

Incredible. Only state artists were allowed to perform, compose, etc. Music dictated by bureaucrats, most who knew nothing about music. Always cut the tour by 10%..of the orchestra. Composers were told to keep it light and happy with no dissonance...You can guess who kept getting into trouble There is much footage of famous artists like Prokofiev, Rictor, Kachaturian, etc. The Soviets refused to allow Rictor to tour outside Russia tho he was their best pianist. His father had been executed and he had no family ties so they thought he would defect. I found this fascinating....couldn't turn it off.