Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. 1, 2 & 7 Carducci String Quartet

• Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975): String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 68:
• 1 String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 68: I. Overture: Moderato con moto 07:56
• 2 String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 68: II. Recitative and Romance: Adagio 10:11
• 3 String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 68: III. Waltz: Allegro 05:30
• 4 String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 68: IV. Theme with Variations: Adagio 10:08
• String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 49:
• 5 String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 49: I. Moderato 04:07
• 6 String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 49: II. Moderato 04:09
• 7 String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 49: III. Allegro molto 02:08
• 8 String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 49: IV. Allegro 03:05
• String Quartet No. 7 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 108:
• 9 String Quartet No. 7 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 108: I. Allegretto 03:35
• 10 String Quartet No. 7 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 108: II. Lento 03:04
• 11 String Quartet No. 7 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 108: III. Allegro - Allegretto 05:34
• Total Runtime 59:27

Info for Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. 1, 2 & 7

This recording marks the second release of the Carducci’s Shostakovich 15 project, which includes performances of the complete cycles of the Shostakovich Quartets in cities including Washington DC, London, Oxford, Cardiff, Bogota and concerts throughout the UK to mark the 40th anniversary of the composer’s death.

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.

This album contrasts Shostakovich’s first two string quartets with the seventh – composed in memory of his late wife Nina. In composing his quartets prior to No. 7, Shostakovich had scrupulously followed a predetermined sequence of keys: according to this, the work should have been in E flat major. However Shostakovich, significantly, chose to break this pattern by writing his new quartet in F sharp minor, the key associated with such anguished music as Peter’s remorse in Bach’s St John Passion, and – particularly close to Shostakovich’s heart – Mahler’s unfinished Tenth Symphony.

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. 1, 2 & 7