Dmitri Shostakovich: String Quartets 1 8 14

The original Borodin Quartet was founded in 1945 in the Soviet Union and this release marks the Quartet’s 70th anniversary. They enjoyed a close relationship with Shostakovich, and often worked with him as a new quartet was written (and they also recorded the cycle).

Now, a new line-up, though still one that bears the characteristic Borodin sound (large, almost symphonic in scope and with a very distinctive way of phrasing), starts a new cycle with works from very different periods in Shostakovich’s music life [No. 1 from 1938, the ever-popular No. 8 from 1960 and No. 14 from 1972 (begun in Aldeburgh when the composer was staying there with Benjamin Britten)]. This album features the three key quartets, including the most popular (No. 8).

1. Shostakovich: 1. Moderato [String Quartet No.1 in C major, Op.49]
2. Shostakovich: 2. Moderato [String Quartet No.1 in C major, Op.49]
3. Shostakovich: 3. Allegro molto [String Quartet No.1 in C major, Op.49]
4. Shostakovich: 4. Allegro [String Quartet No.1 in C major, Op.49]
5. Shostakovich: 1. Largo [String Quartet No.8 in C Minor, Op.110]
6. Shostakovich: 2. Allegro molto [String Quartet No.8 in C Minor, Op.110]
7. Shostakovich: 3. Allegretto [String Quartet No.8 in C Minor, Op.110]
8. Shostakovich: 4. Largo [String Quartet No.8 in C Minor, Op.110]
9. Shostakovich: 5. Largo [String Quartet No.8 in C Minor, Op.110]
10. Shostakovich: 1. Allegretto [String Quartet No.14 in F sharp major Op.142]
11. Shostakovich: 2. Adagio [String Quartet No.14 in F sharp major Op.142]
12. Shostakovich: 3. Allegretto [String Quartet No.14 in F sharp major Op.142]
13. Shostakovich: 1. Elegy [Two Pieces for String Quartet, Op.36a]
14. Shostakovich: 2. Polka [Two Pieces for String Quartet, Op.36a]