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Shostakovich - Last Three String Quartets

£23.61

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Label: Linn

Cat No: CKD612

Barcode: 0691062061223

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 2

Genre: Chamber

Release Date: 25th October 2019

Works

Shostakovich, Dmitri

String Quartet no.13 in B flat minor, op.138 (Adagio)
String Quartet no.14 in F sharp minor, op.142
String Quartet no.15 in E flat minor, op.144

Artists

Fitzwilliam String Quartet

Works

Shostakovich, Dmitri

String Quartet no.13 in B flat minor, op.138 (Adagio)
String Quartet no.14 in F sharp minor, op.142
String Quartet no.15 in E flat minor, op.144

Artists

Fitzwilliam String Quartet

About

The Fitzwilliam String Quartet celebrates a remarkable milestone with this special fiftieth anniversary recording of Shostakovich’s last three string quartets. Fittingly, this landmark recording will look back to the music which first propelled the Fitzwilliam to international prominence. Shostakovich entrusted the Fitzwilliam with the western premieres of his last three quartets (nos. 13, 14 and 15), and before long they had become the first ever group to perform and record all fifteen, winning many international awards along the way.

The highly innovative String Quartet no.13 is notable for its unique single-movement form and the virtuosic viola writing, which shines a spotlight on founding member Alan George. No.14, despite its twelve-tone structure, is perhaps the most accessible of Shostakovich’s late quartets with a wealth of identifiable melodies. The six movements of no.15 are profoundly melancholic and intimate, with the composer’s obsession with death a clear influence.

The Fitzwilliam’s pre-eminence in the interpretation of these works has persisted: Benjamin Britten reported after Shostakovich’s death in 1975 that the composer had told him the Fitzwilliam were his ‘preferred performers of my quartets’.

The Fitzwilliam String Quartet is now one of the longest established string quartets in the world, and possibly unique in having reached a half-century with an original player still on board. The quartet has appeared regularly across Britain, Europe, North America, the Middle and Far East and Southern Africa, and has made many award-winning recordings for Decca, Linn and Divine Art. The FSQ remain one of the few prominent quartets to play on older set-ups, yet simultaneously bringing about the addition of over 50 new works to the repertoire. Whilst the FSQ’s pre-eminence in the interpretation of Shostakovich has persisted, the authority gained has also been put at the service of diverse other composers, from the early 17th century to the present day.

“…The Fitzwilliam Quartet, whom I admire very much. Thank you for a superlative performance of my thirteenth quartet.” – Dmitri Shostakovich

“The Fitzwilliam String Quartet, in my opinion, is, and has been for many years, Britain’s premier string quartet ensemble…a flagship British ensemble that should be the pride of that nation.” – Fanfare

“The Fitzwilliam in its reincarnated state…captured the soul of the music in their absorption with every gesture and shading.” – The Strad

Sound/Video

Paused

1

String Quartet no.13 in B flat minor op.138 - Adagio - Doppio movimento - Tempo primo
2

String Quartet no.14 in F sharp major, op.142 - I. Allegretto
3

String Quartet no.14 in F sharp major, op.142 - II. Adagio
4

String Quartet no.14 in F sharp major, op.142 - III. Allegretto - Adagio
5

String Quartet no.15 in E flat minor, op.144 - I. Elegy: Adagio -
6

String Quartet no.15 in E flat minor, op.144 - II. Serenade: Adagio -
7

String Quartet no.15 in E flat minor, op.144 - III. Intermezzo: Adagio -
8

String Quartet no.15 in E flat minor, op.144 - IV. Nocturne: Adagio -
9

String Quartet no.15 in E flat minor, op.144 - IV. Funeral March: Adagio molto -
10

String Quartet no.15 in E flat minor, op.144 - VI. Epilogue: Adagio

Reviews

... these transparent, refined and frequently brilliant performances are thoroughly up to date. ... these are performances born of honesty and of love: a deeply moving document of a great quartet and its unique connection to a composer who George remembers as a man of ‘simple humility, human warmth, kindness and generosity’. Richard Bratby

Gramophone January 2020