Shostakovich Quartets: Intimate Portraits, Part 4 - A series with the Carducci Quartet

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.

Shostakovich’s psychological shapeshifting is first nature to the Carduccis. ‘From the folk inspired First Quartet to the rarefied Fifteenth, the Carduccis have the full measure of his varied music’ (Seen and Heard International).