Shostakovich: String Quartets Vol. 2

Quartetto Noûs

96420

The new installment of the complete String Quartets by Shostakovich played by Quartetto Nous.

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) is without doubt one of the most famous and influential composers of 20th century Russia. He lived in a time of Soviet repression and, though outwardly a loyal communist, he resented the restrictions imposed by the regime on his creativity. This led to a fascinating duality between conformism and the expression of his most innermost feelings, fears and anger.

Shostakovich’s 15 String Quartets form an impressive body which follows the development of his style throughout his life. They are the testimony of a tortured soul struggling to remain true to himself, expressed in anguish and bleakness, but also in serenity and bliss.

Shostakovich's string quartets 10, 11, and 12 offer a captivating journey through the composer's psyche. String Quartet No. 10, written in 1964, exhibits a blend of anguish and defiance, reflecting the oppressive Soviet regime. No. 11, composed in 1966, is a stark depiction of historical tragedy, notably the 1905 Russian Revolution. Its haunting melodies and stark contrasts evoke a sense of mourning and protest. Finally, No. 12, completed in 1968, embraces experimentation, employing twelve-tone techniques amidst brooding introspection.

Quartetto Noûs, formed in 2011, has established itself in a short time as one of the most interesting chamber music ensembles of its generation. Its immersive performances are the result of a professional training where the Italian tradition and the most influential European schools are combined. The quartet studied with the Quartetto di Cremona at the Accademia Walter Stauffer in Cremona, at the Basel Musik Akademie with Rainer Schmidt (Hagen Quartet), at the Escuela Superior de Música ‘Reina Sofía’ in Madrid and at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena with Günter Pichler (Alban Berg Quartet) and at the Lübeck Musikhochschule with Heime Müller (Artemis Quartet).

The first volume of the Shostakovich Quartets by Quartetto Noûs for Brilliant Classics was hailed enthusiastically by the press. Musicweb writes:” This is one of the best as it left me in awe of the breadth as well as the intensity of Shostakovich’s genius.”.

CD x 1

Brilliant Classics

2024-06-04

5028421964201