The Golden Age (Shostakovich)

The Golden Age is a ballet in three acts and six scenes by Dmitri Shostakovich, with a libretto by Isaac Glikman. Composed between 1929 and 1930, it is identified as Shostakovich's Opus 22.

The ballet's narrative centers around a Soviet football team visiting a Western European city, where they encounter corruption, decadence, and social ills epitomized by a nightclub called "The Golden Age." The plot involves themes of political satire, contrasting the supposed purity of Soviet society with the perceived moral decay of the West. The main characters include a Soviet footballer, Irina, and a local agitator, Yasha, who becomes romantically involved with Irina.

The ballet's premiere in Leningrad in 1930 was met with mixed reception. While praised for its vibrant orchestration and some of its individual musical numbers, it was criticized for its weak libretto, confusing narrative, and perceived lack of ideological clarity. The satirical elements were considered heavy-handed and ultimately ineffective in delivering a clear political message.

Despite the initial negative reviews of the complete ballet, the Suite from The Golden Age, Opus 22a, gained considerable popularity. The suite consists of a selection of orchestral movements from the ballet and is often performed independently. The "Polka" from this suite is particularly well-known and frequently appears in popular culture.

The themes and characters of The Golden Age, although rooted in the Soviet political context of the 1930s, can be interpreted as a broader commentary on social inequality, corruption, and the clash between different cultural values. The ballet remains a significant work in Shostakovich's oeuvre, showcasing his early experimentation with orchestral color and satirical expression.