Composer: Dmitri Shostakovich
Performer: Mandelring Quartett
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Audite
Catalogue: AUDITE21411
Release: 2011
Size: 1.41 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
CD 01
String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 49
01. I. Moderato
02. II. Moderato
03. III. Allegro molto
04. IV. Allegro
String Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 68
05. I. Overture: Moderato con moto
06. II. Recitative and Romance: Adagio
07. III. Waltz: Allegro
08. IV. Theme with Variations: Adagio – Moderato con moto – Allegretto – Allegro non troppo – Allegro – Adagio
String Quartet No. 4 in D major, Op. 83
09. I. Allegretto10. II. Andantino
11. III. Allegretto
12. IV. Allegretto
CD 02
String Quartet No. 3 in F major, Op. 73
01. I. Allegretto
02. II. Moderato con moto
03. III. Allegro non troppo
04. IV. Adagio
05. V. Moderato
String Quartet No. 6 in G major, Op. 101
06. I. Allegretto
07. II. Moderato con moto
08. III. Lento
09. IV. Lento – Allegretto – Andante
String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110
10. I. Largo
11. II. Allegro molto
12. III. Allegretto
13. IV. Largo
14. V. Largo
CD 03
String Quartet No. 5 in B flat major, Op. 92
01. I. Allegretto non troppo
02. II. Andante
03. III. Moderato
String Quartet No. 7 in F sharp minor, Op. 108
04. I. Allegretto
05. II. Lento
06. III. Allegro
String Quartet No. 9 in E flat major, Op. 117
07. I. Moderato con moto
08. II. Adagio
09. III. Allegretto
10. IV. Adagio
11. V. Allegro
CD 04
String Quartet No. 10 in A flat major, Op. 118
01. I. Andante
02. II. Allegretto furiosa
03. III. Adagio
04. IV. Allegretto
String Quartet No. 12 in D flat major, Op. 133
05. I. Moderato
06. II. Allegretto
String Quartet No. 14 in F sharp major, Op. 142
07. I. Allegretto
08. II. Adagio
09. III. Allegretto
CD 05
String Quartet No. 11 in F minor, Op. 122
01. I. Introduction: Andantino –
02. II. Scherzo: Allegretto –
03. III. Recitative: Adagio –
04. IV. Etude: Allegro –
05. V. Humoresque: Allegro –
06. VI. Elegie: Adagio –
07. VII. Finale: Moderato
String Quartet No. 13 in B flat minor, Op. 138
08. I. Adagio – II. Doppio movimento – III. Tempo primo
09. I. Elegy: Adagio –
10. II. Serenade: Adagio –
11. III. Intermezzo: Adagio –
12. IV. Nocturne: Adagio –
13. V. Funeral March: Adagio molto –
14. VI. Epilogue: Adagio
Recorded between 2005 and 2009, and released as separate discs, the Mandelring Quartet’s recordings of the complete string quartets of Dmitry Shostakovich have received considerable critical praise and a growing audience. Audite’s 2011 box set of the cycle is sure to garner even more accolades, for this is really one of the finest contemporary sets available, and the convenience of having all five CDs together in a trimline box with a generous booklet adds value to an already stunning musical offering. The Mandelring Quartet plays with unflinching resolve, sympathetic expression, incisive attacks, and penetrating tone, which are all necessary in Shostakovich’s sardonic and frequently bitter language. The group really digs into the music to reveal all the pain and grief that underlie the surface vitality and brilliance, and is especially impressive in the last five string quartets, which are some of the darkest works Shostakovich ever conceived. The recording is spacious and vibrant, and its lovely acoustic quality may seem to take away some of the quartet’s edginess and immediacy, but the Mandelring Quartet still communicates everything it intends, and there are many awe-inspiring passages where the ensemble brings its full force to bear on the listener, sparing nothing. Highly recommended.