Is that child-like innocence or sarcasm towards Stalin behind these ironic, satirical tunes? Shostakovich’s music remains a mystery for us to understand. In his violin sonata, echoing trends of serialism, the violin takes a meticulous walk under watchful surveillance. The cello overtones at the beginning of the second Piano Trio is a bold tightrope walk but utterly luscious nonetheless. The 5 Pieces for 2 Violins and Piano marks the task of Shostakovich’s public obligation in writing film music - is the light and pure classical style a jubilation for true peace or a momentary escape from reality? Just as the movement titles Shostakovich added in String Quartet No. 3 for its premiere: from the first movement ‘Blithe ignorance of the future cataclysm’ to the last ‘The eternal question: Why? And for what? ’, by these chamber pieces, Shostakovich questioned the era as well as himself.