Shostakovich Quartets by Carducci Quartet

Three quartets unite to perform the Chamber Symphony enlargement of Shostakovich’s 8th quartet, crowning a programme including Firsova’s ardent, deftly-plotted Quartet No 4.

Composed in the ruins of war-devastated Dresden in just three days, Shostakovich’s Quartet No 8 (here in the upscaled version by Rudolf Barshai), is one of the most harrowing testaments in all 20th century music. Deploying his musical monogram DSCH at every turn, the composer wrote himself into it. The single-movement Quartet No 13, dedicated to violist Vadim Borovsky, gives eloquent voice to his instrument. Bartók’s music, heard in New York, fuels the 4th, written in memory of artist and set designer Pyotr Williams. Inspired by William Blake, Elena Firsova’s own 4th quartet proves ‘Amoroso’ by name and nature.

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