Professor Decodes Shostakovich in Unique City Hall Event

Wentworth Institute of Technology Architecture Professor Mark Pasnik joined pianist Jonathan Senik at Boston City Hall for an evening dedicated to “Decoding Shostakovich” on May 7. The event was sponsored by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and tied in with their series of concerts on the Russian composer’s work.   

Senik performed 24 Shostakovich preludes, which echoed through City Hall’s vast concrete lobby. In response, Pasnik gave a talk on the legacy of the Russian avant-garde and its relationship to brutalism during Shostakovich’s lifetime. A sold-out crowd of 120 joined in for the music and presentation.  

In a related event just prior, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu launched Preservation Week and gave a public shout-out to Pasnik, thanking him for continuing “to draw our attention to the meaning and significance of this building.”  

Wu continued, “I think everyone here knows how much I love this building—that I will always take every opportunity to nerd out over its architecture and defend its beauty…. This building is a symbol of our city’s identity and civic life.”