The Nose

opera by Shostakovich

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July 1, 2026

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The Nose is a satirical opera by Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich, composed between 1927 and 1928. It is based on the 1836 short story of the same name by Nikolai Gogol. The opera tells the story of a St. Petersburg official who wakes up to find his nose has vanished.12

The opera premiered in 1930 and was revived in the early 21st century with great success. The Nose is noted for its avant-garde style, incorporating a comprehensive awareness of contemporary Western music, with its avant-garde sounds contorted with wry humor.21

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Dmitri Shostakovich
Early life and works
His satiric opera The Nose (composed 1927–28), based on Nikolay Gogol’s story Nos, displayed a comprehensive awareness of what was new in Western music, although already it seems as if the satire is extended to the styles themselves, for the avant-garde sounds are contorted with wry humour. Not…
Read More
His satiric opera The Nose (composed 1927–28), based on Nikolay Gogol’s story Nos, displayed a comprehensive awareness of what was new in Western music, although already it seems as if the satire is extended to the styles themselves, for the avant-garde sounds are contorted with wry humour. Not…
Read More