柴可夫斯基;蕭士塔高維契:弦樂四重奏 David Oistrakh String Quartet/Tchaikovsky;Shostakovich:String Quartet No. 2 & 8 (Muso)

A new string quartet's debut recording is always a memorable occasion. And muso is particularly proud to welcome into its catalogue the David Oistrakh String Quartet, a young ensemble founded in 2012 by violinist Andrey Baranov, who won first prize at the Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition 75 years after the triumph of fellow Russian David Oistrakh. A case of history coming full circle!

For their first disc, these young soloists boldly launched head first into the vast repertoire of two of the greatest Russian composers: Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. The two quartets performed here were composed almost a century apart. Tchaikovsky was at the height of his powers and had yet to write his most famous works when he composed his String Quartet No. 2. Throughout his life he was to refer to it as one of his best works, the music having "poured forth effortlessly and joyfully, being written practically at one sitting." If these quartets have still not made it into the mainstream repertoire, let us hope the present performance will encourage this state of affairs to change. At times taut, the music is magnificently rendered with exceptional beauty and great warmth.

In Shostakovich's case, on the contrary, nobody today would contest the importance of the string quartets in his oeuvre, which often reflects the composer's state of mind at the time of writing, and his String Quartet No. 8 is no exception. Written in Dresden in 1960, it was dedicated "to the victims of fascism and war" (we do not know precisely who the composer had in mind when he wrote these words). At the time he composed the piece, Shostakovich was going through a troubled period both in his personal life and in his relations with the Soviet authorities. The composer was so satisfied with this clearly autobiographical piece that he subsequently dedicated it to himself! ("I reflected that, when I die, nobody is likely to compose a work in my memory, so I decided to write one myself…"). The musicians of the David Oistrakh Quartet throw themselves body and soul into this incredibly poignant and intense music, with its 5 extraordinarily powerful linked movements.

This is a magnificent choice of programme

Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Op. 22-35:56
1. I. Adagio - Moderato assai quasi andantino-12:03 -
2. II. Scherzo. Allegro giusto-5:53
3. III. Andante ma non tanto-11:51
4. IV. Finale. Allegro con moto-6:09
Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110-21:55
5. I. Largo-5:04
6. II. Allegro molto-2:28
7. III. Allegretto-4:23
8. IV. Largo-5:56
9. V. Largo-4:04
Shostakovich: Two Pieces for String Quartet (Elegy & Polka), Op. 36a- 7:25
10. I. Elegy. Adagio- 4:41
11. II. Polka. Allegretto- 2:44