Ever the humorist, Shostakovich delighted in placing references to his works and of other composers in his final, Fifteenth Symphony: in addition to the cryptic references to his own music, it includes an outburst of Rossini's William Tell Overture in the first movement; allusions to Mikhail Glinka and Gustav Mahler; and the use of Richard Wagner's 'Fate' leitmotif from the Ring Cycle.

There is little humour however in the orchestral version of the Michelangelo Suite: a cycle profoundly personal and
deeply felt.

Novorossiisk Chimes (also known as The Flame of Eternal Glory or The Fire of Eternal Glory), op.111b, was written in 1960 for the war memorial in the city of Novorossiisk. The piece consists, mainly, of material Shostakovich had originally written in 1943 as an entry in a contest to compose a new national anthem for the USSR. The opening phrases have also been used as introductory music for Moscow Radio's late-night news program CKACWH.

Track listing:
1-4. Symphony no.15 (live, Prague, 29/11/1979)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Eduard Serov

5-12. Michelangelo Suite (live, Prague, May 1980)
Sergei Kopcak (bass), Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra/Frantisek Vajnar

13. Novorossiisk Chimes (Novorossiisk, 27/9/1960)
Radio-TV USSR Symphony/Arvid Jansons