Dmitri Shostakovich: The Strings Quartets

On this CD:

1. String Quartet No 1, in C Major, Op. 49
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Jacqueline Thomas, Michael Lee Thomas

2. String Quartet No 2, in A Major, Op. 68
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Jacqueline Thomas, Michael Lee Thomas

3. String Quartet No 3, in F Major, Op. 73
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Jacqueline Thomas, Michael Lee Thomas

4. String Quartet No 4, in D major, Op. 83
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Jacqueline Thomas, Michael Lee Thomas

5. String Quartet No 5, in B flat major, Op. 92
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Jacqueline Thomas, Michael Lee Thomas

6. String Quartet No 6, in G major, Op. 101
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Jacqueline Thomas, Michael Lee Thomas

7. String Quartet No 7, in F sharp Minor, Op. 108
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Jacqueline Thomas, Michael Lee Thomas

8. String Quartet No 8, in C Minor, Op. 110
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Jacqueline Thomas, Michael Lee Thomas

9. String Quartet No 9, in E flat major, Op. 117
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Jacqueline Thomas, Michael Lee Thomas

10. String Quartet No 10, in A flat, Op. 118
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Jacqueline Thomas, Michael Lee Thomas

11. String Quartet No 11, in F Minor, Op. 122
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Jacqueline Thomas, Michael Lee Thomas

12. String Quartet No 12, in D flat major, Op. 133
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Jacqueline Thomas, Michael Lee Thomas

13. String Quartet No 13, in B flat Minor, Op. 138
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Jacqueline Thomas, Michael Lee Thomas

14. String Quartet No 14, in F sharp major, Op. 142
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Jacqueline Thomas, Michael Lee Thomas

15. String Quartet No 15, in E flat Minor, Op. 144
Composed by Dmitry Shostakovich
Performed by Ian Belton, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Jacqueline Thomas, Michael Lee Thomas

Dmitri Shostakovich: The String Quartets, Music, Jacqueline Thomas, Dmitry Shostakovich, Brodsky Quartet, Paul Cassidy, Ian Belton, Michael Lee Thomas, Chamber, Chamber Symphony, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Quartet for Four String Instruments

Shostakovich - String Quartets Nos. 1, 3, 4 - The Beethoven String Quartet
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Shostakovich - String Quartets Nos. 1, 3, 4 - The Beethoven String Quartet

Manufacturer: Melodiya
ProductGroup: Classical
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000J0Q6ZO

Product Description

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) String Quartet No. 1 in C major, Op. 49 1 1. Moderato 4. 34 2 2. Moderato 4. 20 3 3. Allegro molto 2. 08 4 4. Allegro 2. 51 String Quartet No. 3 in F major, Op. 76 5 1. Allegretto 6. 51 6 2. Moderato con moto 4. 41 7 3. Allegro non troppo 3. 58 8 4. Adagio 5. 08 9 5. Moderato 9. 03 String Quartet No. 4 in D major, Op. 8 10 1. Allegretto 3. 11 11 2. Andantino 5. 49 12 3. Allegretto 4. 02 13 4. Allegretto 8. 11 The Beethoven String Quartet: Dmitri Tsyganov (1st violin), Vasili Shirinsky (2nd violin), Vadim Borisovsky (viola), Sergei Shirinsky (cello) Dmitri Tsyganov (1st violin), Nikolai Zabavnikov (2nd violin), Fedor Druzhinin (viola), Sergei Shirinsky (cello) Recorded in 1961 (1-4, 10-13), 1965 (5-9)

Dmitri Shostakovich: Complete String Quartets (Box Set)

Average customer rating:

Expletives of awe
The one to get...
Polished, authoritative
Quintessential Recordings of a Seminal Quartet Cycle
Quite Simply the Best Boxed Set Ever

Dmitri Shostakovich: Complete String Quartets (Box Set)
Dmitry Shostakovich , Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter , and Borodin Quartet
Manufacturer: Melodiya
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tracks:

String Quartet No.1 In C Major, Op.49: I: Moderato
String Quartet No.1 In C Major, Op.49: II: Moderato
String Quartet No.1 In C Major, Op.49: III: Allegro molto
String Quartet No.1 In C Major, Op.49: IV: Allegro
String Quartet No.2 In A Major, Op.68: I: Overture (Moderato con moto)
String Quartet No.2 In A Major, Op.68: II: Recitative and Romance (Adagio)
String Quartet No.2 In A Major, Op.68: III: Waltz (Allegro)
String Quartet No.2 In A Major, Op.68: IV: Theme with Variations (Adagio)
String Quartet No.4 In D Major, Op.83: I: Allegretto
String Quartet No.4 In D Major, Op.83: II: Andantino
String Quartet No.4 In D Major, Op.83: III: Allegretto
String Quartet No.4 In D Major, Op.83: IV: Allegretto

Tracks:

String Quartet No.3 In F Major, Op.73: I. Allegretto
String Quartet No.3 In F Major, Op.73: II. Moderato con moto
String Quartet No.3 In F Major, Op.73: III. Allegro non troppo
String Quartet No.3 In F Major, Op.73: IV. Adagio
String Quartet No.3 In F Major, Op.73: V. Moderato
Two Pieces For String Octet, Op.11: I. Prelude in D Minor (Adagio)
Two Pieces For String Octet, Op.11: II. Scherzo in G Minor (Allegro molto)
Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op.57: I. Prelude (Lento)
Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op.57: II. Fugue (Adagio)
Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op.57: III. Scherzo (Allegretto)
Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op.57: IV. Intermezzo (Lento)
Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op.57: V. Finale (Allegretto)

Tracks:

String Quartet No.5 in B flat Major, Op.92: I. Allegro non troppo
String Quartet No.5 in B flat Major, Op.92: II. Andante
String Quartet No.5 in B flat Major, Op.92: III. Moderato
String Quartet No.6 in G Major, Op.101: I. Allegretto
String Quartet No.6 in G Major, Op.101: II. Moderato con moto
String Quartet No.6 in G Major, Op.101: III. Lento
String Quartet No.6 in G Major, Op.101: IV. Lento- Allegretto
String Quartet No.7 in F sharp Minor, Op.108: I. Alegretto
String Quartet No.7 in F sharp Minor, Op.108: II. Lento
String Quartet No.7 in F sharp Minor, Op.108: III. Alegro

Tracks:

String Quartet No.8 In C Minor, Op.110: I: Largo
String Quartet No.8 In C Minor, Op.110: II: Allegro molto
String Quartet No.8 In C Minor, Op.110: III: Allegretto
String Quartet No.8 In C Minor, Op.110: IV: Largo
String Quartet No.8 In C Minor, Op.110: V: Largo
String Quartet No.9 In E Flat Major Op.117: I: Moderato con moto
String Quartet No.9 In E Flat Major Op.117: II: Adagio
String Quartet No.9 In E Flat Major Op.117: III: Allegretto
String Quartet No.9 In E Flat Major Op.117: IV: Adagio
String Quartet No.9 In E Flat Major Op.117: V: Allegro
String Quartet No.10 In A Flat Major, Op.118: 1: Andante
String Quartet No.10 In A Flat Major, Op.118: II: Allegretto furioso
String Quartet No.10 In A Flat Major, Op.118: III: Adagio
String Quartet No.10 In A Flat Major, Op.118: IV: Allegretto

Tracks:

String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.122: I. Introduction (Andintino) - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.122: II. Scherzo (Allegretto) - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.122: III. Recitative (Adagio) - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.122: IV. Etude (Allegro) - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.122: V. Humoresque (Allegro) - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.122: VI. Elegy (Adagio) - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.122: VII. Conclusion (Moderato) - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No.12 In D Flat Major, Op.133: I. Moderato - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No.12 In D Flat Major, Op.133: II. Allegretto - Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet No.13 In B Flat Minor, Op.138: Adagio - Dmitri Shostakovich

Tracks:

String Quartet No.14 In F Sharp Minor: I. Allegretto
String Quartet No.14 In F Sharp Minor: II. Adagio
String Quartet No.14 In F Sharp Minor: III. Allegretto
String Quartet No.15 In E Flat Minor: I. Elegy (Adagio)
String Quartet No.15 In E Flat Minor: II. Serenade (Adagio)
String Quartet No.15 In E Flat Minor: III. Intermezzo (Adagio)
String Quartet No.15 In E Flat Minor: IV. Nocturne- Adagio
String Quartet No.15 In E Flat Minor: V. Funeral March (Adagio molto)
String Quartet No.15 In E Flat Minor: VI. Epilogue (Adagio)

Amazon.com essential recording

Rarely do we come across as intimate and wide-angled a set as this collection of Dmitri Shostakovich's 15 string quartets, all of them played by the Russian Borodin Quartet. Recorded in Moscow between 1978 and 1983, the quartets are excellently reproduced in digital sound by Sviatoslav Richter, who maintains just enough shadow from the old Melodiya vinyl's audio vérité to make the music breathe passionately. Of course, it's the Borodins who really amp up the musical breath, whether in their near-giddy reading of the third quartet's first movement or in the 14th's complex, stoutly metaphysical somberness. These recordings will likely always remain the standard for Shostakovich's chamber repertoire because the Borodins were so focused on the Russian quartet literature and so little of anything they played by one composer approached the immediate, mature fullness of Shostakovich's quartets from the first to the last. And they played the music with unflagging intensity. Over the six CDs, it's a fascinating exercise to hear the development of compositional elements between the first (1935) and 15th (1974, the year before his death) quartets. Variations on the passacaglia technique, for example, permeate the music, allowing telescopic focus on Shostakovich's careful mediation of the dialogue between constancy and change, flying motifs from violin to viola to cello and back even as it appeared little fundamental groundwork had changed. Polyphony, dissonance, and aching resonance find a home in the music, showing Shostakovich's Catholic reach--and surely the impetus for his long-standing troubled relationship with Soviet politics. --Andrew Bartlett

Amazon.com

Dmitri Shostakovich's 15 string quartets are second in quality only to Bartók's magnificent half-dozen among the sets produced in this form by 20th-century composers. But outside of Russia, they were ignored or disparaged for a long time, dismissed as "not really chamber music" and criticized for technical "weaknesses," largely because they did not follow the standard patterns invented and developed in Vienna. The Borodin Quartet, Russian colleagues and friends of Shostakovich (though not as closely associated with him as the Beethoven Quartet), lived with the music for years before this, their second complete recording. They play with power and elegance, and the attractively priced set has a substantial bonus: a magnificent performance, with pianist Sviatoslav Richter, of the Quintet in G minor, Op. 57, one of the masterpieces of 20th-century chamber music. The sound is variable and never outstanding by current digital standards. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews:

Expletives of awe.......2007-03-15

Although I haven't heard the 2nd and 3rd quartets from this cycle (my local library lacks these two), it's safe to say that this set has an emotional depth and feeling for the music that can't be matched by the Emerson or Fitzwilliam SQ. I hate saying that, because the latter two are both excellent in their own way (the Fitzwilliam SQ certainly doesn't lack soul, and the Emerson especially shines when the music calls for violence and fireworks), but there is something about the Borodin complete set that seems to capture this music perfectly and gets the subtleties just right.

A couple of examples: the very eerie beginning of the second movement of the 15th - the Borodin SQ is right on the money with how it seems the music should sound. One instrument picks up from the other perfectly. The second example is the wild conclusion of the 12th. This is music that seems to be lashing out against something in a life or death struggle (against the old Soviet system, perhaps?), and the Borodin SQ jumps on it with a ferocity that brings a smile to my face. It's as if the Borodin SQ were playing the music for the first time, but having the fantastic luck of nailing every note exactly as it should be played.

For now this set is barely available, and for $99 at that. I did some research on the Internet, however, and it appears that Melodiya (the Russian label that released this originally, apparently in partnership with EMI) has re-issued this set complete with new packaging. It appears to have been released abroad, but not in the U.S. yet. When this set reappears in the states, I'm definately buying it.

I discovered this music recently out of curiosity. Now I'm hooked. If music from the 20th Century is a little bit too biting or obscure for your tastes (if pressed, I'd have to say that I enjoy chamber music from the Romantic Era most of all), I think that these quartets will be a pleasant surprise. They are definately modern, but they retain enough elements of music of the past to make them very accessible.

The one to get..........2005-01-07

This set brilliantly portrays the genius of these 15 Quartets better than any other. Technically and artistically powerful, moving performances.

The Fitzwilliam Quartet cycle is a close second.

Polished, authoritative.......2004-08-23

There now exist several recordings of the complete Shostakovich string quartets. Some of them are very fine ones: the Emersons, the Fitzwilliams, the Beethovens, and the Borodins to name a few. While each of these collections of interpretations has their strengths, the Borodin Quartet delivers probably the most satisfying and definitive renditions. In what are otherwise fine cycles, the Fitzwilliam Quartet tends to sound jagged and shrieking at times, and the Emerson Quartet offers much perfection and less character. With the Borodins the irony and dark humor comes into play the best, and in the more tranquil moments (like the final movement of the third) the timbres created are breathtaking. In fact, the Borodins seem to succeed better than anyone in illutrsating the gamut of emotions the quartets offer. No doubt older members of the quartet's personal contact with Shostakovich as well as training in Shostakovich's Russia helped develop this ability. The quartets of Shostakovich radiate mystery and depth. To date it seems to me that the Borodins achieve this the best.

Quintessential Recordings of a Seminal Quartet Cycle.......2002-11-01

The 15 Shostakovitch Quartets are almost the mirror image of the 15 Symphonies. While the Symphonies are big public statements, albeit statements filled with many private meanings, the quartets are intensely private. Listening the the entire cycle is like reading a locked diary. You feel as if you are listening in on Shostakovitch's private thoughts. And while the symphonies are primarily works of his early years (the first ten were written before the early fifties) the most of the quartets were written later in his career, the last ten date from about 1950 onward.

These are wide ranging works, from the almost Haydnesque 1st quartet through the almost serial 13th quartet, and onward to the intensely elegaic 15th quartet, composed of 7 slow movements. The early quartets are mostly written in Shostakovitch's middle style as reflected in the 5th symphony. The music is clear and very tonal, as most works of Shostakovitch's Soviet Realist style would be. But they reveal underlying secrets in the occasional dissonances and dark moments. And starting with the 6th quartet the music begins to transition into the composer's late style. These works are more enigmatic. The musical language is more chromatic...based on the same synthetic scales that inspired Scriabin and Messiaen...and much more dissonant than the earlier quartets. Shostakovitch is much more experimental, stretching his language and formal structures. Also, there seems to be crytic messages in the music based on numerical symbolism, hidden letter messages, and references to the composer's other music.

These performances are definative. The Borodin Quartet, along with the Beethoven Quartet, have the best pedigree with these works, having worked personally with the composer, and actually premiering some of these works. This boxed set is a beautifully remastered version of the original Meloydia recordings. Where the Meloydia pressings were muddy and boxy, this remastering sounds spacious, like they would sound in a concert hall. And the emotional content of the playing is stunning. If you can get it, this is the recording to have of these seminal pieces. Get them now!

Quite Simply the Best Boxed Set Ever.......2001-07-02

Sure there are other good recordings by other quartets of the complete String Quartets of Dmitri Shostakovich -- for double (or triple!) the price. But not only are the Borodin Quartet recordings cheap, they are the best. The Borodins give an unshakably consistent reading of every quartet (and Shostakovich fires no blanks!). They even throw in the Piano Quintet and the two String Octet movements. Each performance is among the best ever recorded and some ARE the best ever recorded, especially the immensely convincing and coherent readings of the middle-late dodecaphonic quartets (12, 13) and the late 'introverted' quartets (14, 15). Even the over-recorded 8th quartet sounds amazingly fresh here. I can't recommend this set enough. You won't regret the purchase for a nanosecond.

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