The piece was composed in the autumn of 1948, after Shostakovich's denunciation in the Zhdanov decree of that year. The composer's situation and the official anti-Semitism of the time made a public premiere impossible until January 15, 1955, when it was performed by Shostakovich himself with Nina L'vovna Dorliak, Zara Dolukhanova and Alec Maslennikov. Before the premiere the work received a number of private performances.

Librettist (Texts take from the collection Jewish folk songs)
Date of composition 1948 (Composed in the autumn of 1948)
Premiered 1955, January 15th by Dmitri Shostakovitch
Type Song cycle
Catalogue Op. 79
Instruments Piano
Voice (Tenor)
Voice (Mezzo-Soprano)
Voice (Soprano)
Autotranslations beta Dmitri Chostakovitch: From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79
Dmitrij Šostakovič: From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79
Dmitri Dmitrijewitsch Schostakowitsch: From Jewish Folk Poetry, Op. 79