Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. 4, 8 & 11 Carducci String Quartet

• Dmitri Shostakovich (1975): String Quartet No. 4 in D Major, Op. 83:
• 1 I. Allegretto 03:58
• 2 II. Andantino 06:57
• 3 III. Allegretto 04:06
• 4 IV. Allegretto 09:57
• String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 110:
• 5 I. Largo - 05:01
• 6 II. Allegro molto - 02:48
• 7 III. Allegretto - 04:19
• 8 IV. Largo - 05:28
• 9 V. Largo 03:55
• String Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 122:
• 10 I. Introduction: Andantino 02:10
• 11 II. Scherzo: Allegretto 02:49
• 12 III. Recitative: Adagio 01:11
• 13 IV. Etude: Allegro 01:19
• 14 V. Humoresque: Allegro 01:06
• 15 VI. Elegie: Adagio 04:09
• 16 VII. Finale: Moderato 03:25
• Total Runtime 01:02:38

Info for Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. 4, 8 & 11

Carducci Quartet launches Shostakovich15 – its project to perform all 15 of Shostakovich’s string quartets in 2015. Commemorating 40 years since Shostakovich’s death, Carducci Quartet performs several complete cycles throughout the year and releases this recording of Shostakovich’s fourth, eighth and eleventh string quartets – all landmark works in the string quartet repertory.

"The performances are both polished and passionate." (The Sunday Times)

"Great musical flair...the Carducci's are superb here." (Music Web International)

"Their warmly engineered release of three of the Russian master's quartets is undoubtedly a fine achievement, boasting excellent ensemble, musical insight and sensitive attention to detail...cellist Emma Denton not only provides a solid foundation for the group as a whole, but is particularly eloquent in solo passages." (BBC Music Magazine)

"[The Carducci Quartet] clearly have the technical measure of these three highly contrasting works from Shostakovich's quartet output...this well-recorded disc holds out much promise of things to come." (Gramophone)

Carducci String Quartet

Carducci String Quartet
An internationally renowned Anglo-Irish string quartet based in the UK, the versatile and award-winning Carducci String Quartet has performed everything from brand new quartets, classic works by Haydn, complete Shostakovich cycles, and even partnered with folk-rock icon Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull. Founded in 1997, the quartet has won numerous international competitions, including the Concert Artists Guild International Competition 2007 in New York and First Prize at Finland’s Kuhmo International Chamber Music Competition 2004. In 2016, they took home a Royal Philharmonic Society Award for their performances of cycles of the complete Shostakovich Quartets. This Shostakovich15 project was accompanied by a recording of quartets Nos 4, 8 and 11—their second disc for Signum Classics, and it was recognised by BBC Music Magazine as 'a fine achievement, boasting excellent ensemble, musical insight and sensitive attention to detail'. The quartet has released a bevy of acclaimed recordings on their own label, Carducci Classics, as well as Signum Classics. Their recordings of Philip Glass Quartets have had over six million plays on Spotify.

Described by The Strad as presenting 'a masterclass in unanimity of musical purpose, in which severity could melt seamlessly into charm, and drama into geniality', the Carducci Quartet is recognised as one of today’s most successful string quartets. Performing over 90 concerts worldwide each year, the quartet also run an annual festival in Highnam, Gloucester.

Booklet for Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. 4, 8 & 11