Overview
Dmitri Shostakovich was born on September 25, 1906 in St. Petersburg, and lived in the Russian Empire (pre-1922)/Soviet Union (post-'22) for the entire duration of his life. He was a constantly nervous, naturally obsessive man (he would regularly send himself cards in the mail to test the efficiency of the postal service); his nervous habits were only worsened by the time spent under Stalin's totalitarian reign. He was a chronic smoker and, subsequently, died of lung cancer in 1975.

Shostakovich as a Young Composer
After graduating from the Petrograd Conservatory in 1926, he decided to pursue a career as both a pianist and composer. However, the huge success of his First Symphony convinced him to focus his efforts in composition. These first years as a professional saw the production of his first two symphonies, as well as two operas: The Nose (1928) and Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District (1932); the latter opened to praise and official state approval, while the former was criticized for being too "elitist."

During the Great Terror
1936 marked the beginning of the Great Terror or, as it's known outside of the West, the Great Purge. Citizens everywhere were being imprisoned or killed, and Shostakovich lost many of his friends and relatives during this time. 1936 was also the year that the composer received his first denunciation: a public campaign, believed to have originated from Stalin himself, attacked his music. Lady Macbeth, which had enjoyed much success earlier, was suddenly declared "formalist" (elitist). Effectively censored by the state, Shostakovich lost much of his business temporarily.

His reaction to all of the stresses endured that year was his sarcastic Fifth Symphony, which met the public with great success. Perhaps misinterpreting the final movement of the symphony, critics declared the work sufficiently triumphant, declaring the composer on his way to being "rehabilitated." Shostakovich also began working on string quartets at this point.

World War II gave Shostakovich the chance to win back political approval and resume his career. During the Siege of Leningrad, while under siege conditions, he wrote the bulk of his Seventh Symphony (appropriately subtitled "Leningrad"). Completed in 1941, this symphony was interpreted by the state as an anti-Hitler (and, therefore, pro-Party) statement. He received a Stalin Prize for his work on it. His contribution to Russian propaganda efforts helped him win back political favour.

Seven years later, Shostakovich was officially denounced again. The consequences were severe: most of his works were banned, he was forced to publicly repent, and his lost the privilege to live with his wife and children. After a year, however, these restrictions were relaxed, partly in order to coax him into taking part in a delegation of notable Russians that were to visit the United States.

1953 marked Stalin's death, and with him the reign of terror also faded gradually. Shostakovich was able to be officially rehabilitated. He wrote his Tenth Symphony at this time, perhaps in a similar spirit to the fifth: as a subtle act of defiance of the state.

His Later Life
Shostakovich joined the communist party in 1960. His son recalled that the event had reduced his father to tears; he confided to his wife later that he had been blackmailed. It was around this time that his health began to deteriorate. In 1965, he was diagnosed with polio, and so was forced to give up his piano playing. He suffered heart attacks in 1966 and 1971. Regardless of his physical ailments, he continued composing until his death in 1975.