Shostakovich: Waltz No.2- The Second Waltz (Violin and Piano)｜Eimi Wakui
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), a master of 20th-century Soviet music, left us with Waltz No. 2—an unforgettable gem that beautifully blends elegance and melancholy.
This piece is excerpted from his Suite for Variety Orchestra, and has been featured in many films, stage productions, and television shows. It gained wide recognition in the West after it was used in Stanley Kubrick’s 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut. With its instantly memorable melody and distinctive mood, it continues to be beloved by listeners across generations and borders.
Though often categorized as “light music,” this waltz is far from being merely decorative. Beneath its graceful triple-time dance rhythm lies a rich emotional depth typical of Shostakovich’s music. What first appears to be a charming and bright waltz reveals, upon closer listening, subtle layers of wistfulness, quiet solitude, and a hint of irony — all carefully woven into the music.
The violin carries a melody that is both catchy and expressive, evoking a restrained kind of nostalgia, like café music tinged with emotion. Meanwhile, the piano plays a crucial role as a condensed version of the orchestra, supporting the flow with rhythm and harmony. In the central section, where the music modulates to a brighter key (such as E-flat major), the atmosphere shifts into something dreamlike — like a fleeting dance in a memory.
In this performance, I aimed to express that bittersweet emotional undercurrent floating within the lighthearted waltz rhythm, through the intimacy of a violin and piano duo. I hope you can hear in the violin not just beauty, but those unspoken emotions that lie beneath — and feel the delicate musical conversation between the two instruments！
Piano: Alexey Sychev
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