Vultures. Tell me what & how to think about Shostakovich's 5th. The famous anti-Soviet one

[Bink]

Played very excitingly (and excitedly) last night by the London Philharmonic. A slightly odd bill, as the first half was Pollini dancing exquisitely over Beethoven's Emperor - and then we had this great big Just How Many Different Effects Can We Do thing.

And I can't decide whether it is all fabulous (it's a piece I know inside out & have always loved the listening experience if that makes sense) or whether it is almost nearly crude. And, if the latter, whether that's because it is doing a message and not being abstract.

What do you think? Is there a famous essay or anything I should read about it?

no it's FABULOUS
end of

I would ask DH your question (music geek) but he's asleep. I may ask him tomorrow. But I'm not aware of a famous essay on it. Just his famous comment that it is 'a Soviet Artist's response to my critics'

also that it's not quite clear whether he was being supremely ironic (and therefore overblown with all the OTT patriotism) or whether he was genuinely trying to show his love for his homeland/comrades etc.