· Day 414 of 1418
Music stronger than guns
Philharmonic Hall, Leningrad
- orchestra musicians survived the first siege winter
- ≈ 15
- orchestra musicians survived the first siege winter
On 9 August 1942 the Seventh Symphony was performed inside besieged Leningrad. Musicians weak from hunger were gathered from all over the city, and artillery silenced enemy guns beforehand so the concert would not be interrupted. It was broadcast by radio, and the enemy heard it too.
By spring only about fifteen musicians of the Radio Committee orchestra were still alive. The conductor Karl Eliasberg searched the whole city for players; some were recalled straight from the front line. At rehearsals people collapsed from weakness, so the musicians were given extra rations.
The concert in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic lasted about 80 minutes. It was broadcast by loudspeaker across the city and to the front line. The audience came in the best clothes they had left.
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