Shostakovich in brief

• Icy tribute The Shostakovich Peninsula on Alexander Island in Antarctica is named in honour of the composer. If you happen to be passing and want to check it out, you'll find it between the Stravinsky Inlet and the Monteverdi Peninsula.

• Prize for the most original anniversary celebration A piano marathon at the South Bank Centre in London, with young pianists making their merry way through Shostakovich's complete piano output.

• On-screen Shostakovich-spotting The second waltz from Jazz Suite No 2 was used on the Stanley Kubrick film Eyes Wide Shut, while The Gadfly turns up on the soundtrack of the TV series Reilly, Ace of Spies.

• Cover story A famous wartime propaganda image of Shostakovich dressed as a volunteer fire warden, complete with helmet, made the cover of Time magazine.

• The last laugh "What are human emotions? Not only lyricism, sadness and tragedy, but laughter," Shostakovich once declared. "When a listener laughs loudly during my symphonic concert, it doesn't shock me a bit. On the contrary, it pleases me."