Time goes forward, but many things stay the same (or similar). This post could be on thread about symphonies that change my life.
There was very interesting program about Shostakovich. They did touch on the subject of complexity of his personality and on fact that he was part of established composers and was for many people part of the ruling class with his dacha and apartment etc.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007g7hpThere is interesting discussion of his symphonies and his life. I think many of us live through times when we just cross each day in calendar thankful that it has passed (he did that in his diaries).