Dmitri Shostakovich’s Second Waltz, from his Suite for Variety Orchestra, was featured in the 1955 Soviet film The First Echelon. It is actually only the “Waltz” (eighth movement) from The First Echelon (suite from the film score), Op. 99a. Its popular name comes from “Suite for Variety Orchestra” (also named Suite for Variety Stage Orchestra), a suite in eight movements, written after 1956 by the Russian composer. The “waltz” is the seventh movement of the suite, and it is the “second” waltz in the work, hence the name “The second waltz”. Here it is played by André Rieu‘s “Johann Strauss Orchestra“.
The Second Waltz by Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Second Waltz” is one of his most famous light works, but its origins are often misattributed. For years, it was believed to belong to his Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2 (1938). In reality, the piece is part of the Suite for Variety Orchestra, a set of dance-style pieces Shostakovich likely compiled in the late 1940s. The confusion arose because the manuscripts of the true Jazz Suite No. 2 were lost during World War II and rediscovered only in 1999.
The “Second Waltz” was used in the 1955 Soviet feature film The First Echelon (Pervyy eshelon), a production that highlighted postwar Soviet life and the enthusiasm of young workers. The waltz’s charming, lyrical character contrasted with Shostakovich’s often darker symphonic works, making it ideal for film and popular settings.
The piece gained worldwide fame in later decades, especially after being popularized through performances outside Russia – for instance, André Rieu’s recordings turned it into an international concert staple. Despite its lightheartedness, the waltz is a masterclass in orchestration, balancing nostalgia, elegance, and Soviet-era optimism.
The “Second Waltz” and the movements of “Suite for Variety Orchestra”
According to a note by the composer, any number of the pieces may be played, and in any order. The order of movements given in the New Collected Works of Dmitri Shostakovich series is as follows:
- March
- Dance 1
- Dance 2
- Little Polka
- Lyric Waltz (in C minor and E-flat major)
- Waltz 1 (in B-flat major and A major)
- Waltz 2 (in C minor and E-flat major), adapted from the Waltz (eighth movement) from the Suite from ‘The First Echelon’, Op. 99a, hence the name “the second waltz”
- Finale
“The Second Waltz” became popular in the 1990s and 2000s when it was used in the soundtrack for the Stanley Kubrick film “Eyes Wide Shut” (1999). Since then, it has been widely performed and recorded by orchestras around the world, and has become one of Shostakovich’s most famous compositions.
The waltz is known for its lively and energetic melody, which is accompanied by a driving rhythm and a strong sense of momentum. Despite its popularity, however, “The Second Waltz” has been the subject of controversy over the years, with some critics arguing that it is overly sentimental and lacking in artistic depth.
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich (25 September 1906 – 9 August 1975) was a Soviet Russian composer and pianist and a prominent figure in 20th-century music.
Shostakovich achieved fame in the Soviet Union under the patronage of
After a period influenced by Sergei Prokofiev and Igor Stravinsky, Shostakovich developed a hybrid style, as exemplified by Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District (1934). This single work juxtaposed a wide variety of trends, including the neo-classical style (showing the influence of Stravinsky) and post-Romanticism (after Gustav Mahler). Sharp contrasts and elements of the grotesque characterize much of his music.
Shostakovich’s orchestral works include 15 symphonies and six concerti. His chamber output includes 15 string quartets, a piano quintet, two piano trios, and two pieces for string octet. His piano works include two solo sonatas, an early set of preludes, and a later set of 24 preludes and fugues. Other works include three operas, several song cycles, ballets, and a substantial quantity of film music, especially the well-known The Second Waltz, Op. 99: Music to the film The First Echelon (1955-1956).
André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra
The Johann Strauss Orchestra was founded by André Rieu in 1987. At the time of its first concert on January 1, 1988, the orchestra consisted of 12 musicians. In 2008, the orchestra expanded to 43 members and performs regularly with guest musicians and singers such as Mirusia Louwerse, Carmen Monarcha,
The Orchestra now performs with between 80 and 150 musicians. At the time the Orchestra first toured Europe, there emerged a renewed interest in waltz music. The revival began in the Netherlands and was ignited by their recording of the Second Waltz from Shostakovich’s Suite for Variety Orchestra. As a result, Rieu became known as the Waltz King.
Sources
- The First Echelon, a Soviet film from 1955 (in Russian).
- Dmitri Shostakovich on Wikipedia
- Johann Strauss Orchestra on Wikipedia
- Suite for Variety Orchestra (Shostakovich) on Wikipedia
