Maxim Shostakovich

Maxim Dmitrievich Shostakovich (born Leningrad on May 10, 1938) is a Russian conductor and pianist. He was the second child of Dmitri Shostakovich and Nina Varzar.

Since 1975, he has conducted and popularised many of his father's lesser-known works.

He was educated at the Moscow and Leningrad Conservatories before becoming chief conductor of the Union Radio and TV Symphony Orchestra. While he was Principal Conductor of the the USSR Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, he conducted the premiere of his father's 15th Symphony. In 1981 he emigrated to the United States. After spells conducting the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra he returned to St. Petersburg.

Maxim is the dedicatee and first performer of his father's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major (Op. 102). The piece was written for his graduation from the Moscow Conservatory.

He has a son, Dmitri Maximovich Shostakovich, who is a pianist. Dmitri is the spitting image of his grandfather, and has recorded the Second Piano Concerto (with his father conducting).