Aapo Kukko´s graphic novel Red Beethoven is based on the life of Soviet composer Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975). The work spans several decades, telling the story of the artist, his era, and his contemporaries – from the early years of the Soviet Union in the 1920s to the height of Brezhnev-era power in the mid-1960s. A central theme is the artist’s complex relationship with the authorities, especially with Joseph Stalin.
The work will be published in autumn 2026, around the 120th anniversary of the composer’s birth.
In co-operation with: Oulunsalo Library, Oulu Comics Centre
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