Shostakovich – Complete String Quartets (6 CD box set, FLAC)

Composer: Dmitri Shostakovich
Performer: Sviatoslav Richter, Borodin Quartet
Audio CD
SPARS Code: A-D
Number of Discs: 6 CD box set
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Melodiya
Size: 2.03 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc: 1
01. String Quartet No.1 In C Major, Op.49: I: Moderato
02. String Quartet No.1 In C Major, Op.49: II: Moderato
03. String Quartet No.1 In C Major, Op.49: III: Allegro molto
04. String Quartet No.1 In C Major, Op.49: IV: Allegro
05. String Quartet No.2 In A Major, Op.68: I: Overture (Moderato con moto)
06. String Quartet No.2 In A Major, Op.68: II: Recitative and Romance (Adagio)
07. String Quartet No.2 In A Major, Op.68: III: Waltz (Allegro)
08. String Quartet No.2 In A Major, Op.68: IV: Theme with Variations (Adagio)
09. String Quartet No.4 In D Major, Op.83: I: Allegretto
10. String Quartet No.4 In D Major, Op.83: II: Andantino
11. String Quartet No.4 In D Major, Op.83: III: Allegretto
12. String Quartet No.4 In D Major, Op.83: IV: Allegretto

Disc: 2
01. String Quartet No.3 In F Major, Op.73: I. Allegretto
02. String Quartet No.3 In F Major, Op.73: II. Moderato con moto
03. String Quartet No.3 In F Major, Op.73: III. Allegro non troppo
04. String Quartet No.3 In F Major, Op.73: IV. Adagio
05. String Quartet No.3 In F Major, Op.73: V. Moderato Liste
06. Two Pieces For String Octet, Op.11: I. Prelude in D Minor (Adagio)
07. Two Pieces For String Octet, Op.11: II. Scherzo in G Minor (Allegro molto)
08. Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op.57: I. Prelude (Lento)
09. Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op.57: II. Fugue (Adagio)
10. Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op.57: III. Scherzo (Allegretto)
11. Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op.57: IV. Intermezzo (Lento)
12. Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op.57: V. Finale (Allegretto)

Disc: 3
01. String Quartet No.5 in B flat Major, Op.92: I. Allegro non troppo
02. String Quartet No.5 in B flat Major, Op.92: II. Andante
03. String Quartet No.5 in B flat Major, Op.92: III. Moderato
04. String Quartet No.6 in G Major, Op.101: I. Allegretto
05. String Quartet No.6 in G Major, Op.101: II. Moderato con moto
06. String Quartet No.6 in G Major, Op.101: III. Lento
07. String Quartet No.6 in G Major, Op.101: IV. Lento- Allegretto
08. String Quartet No.7 in F sharp Minor, Op.108: I. Alegretto
09. String Quartet No.7 in F sharp Minor, Op.108: II. Lento
10. String Quartet No.7 in F sharp Minor, Op.108: III. Alegro

Disc: 4
01. String Quartet No.8 In C Minor, Op.110: I: Largo
02. String Quartet No.8 In C Minor, Op.110: II: Allegro molto
03. String Quartet No.8 In C Minor, Op.110: III: Allegretto
04. String Quartet No.8 In C Minor, Op.110: IV: Largo
05. String Quartet No.8 In C Minor, Op.110: V: Largo
06. String Quartet No.9 In E Flat Major Op.117: I: Moderato con moto
07. String Quartet No.9 In E Flat Major Op.117: II: Adagio
08. String Quartet No.9 In E Flat Major Op.117: III: Allegretto
09. String Quartet No.9 In E Flat Major Op.117: IV: Adagio
10. String Quartet No.9 In E Flat Major Op.117: V: Allegro
11. String Quartet No.10 In A Flat Major, Op.118: 1: Andante
12. String Quartet No.10 In A Flat Major, Op.118: II: Allegretto furioso
13. String Quartet No.10 In A Flat Major, Op.118: III: Adagio
14. String Quartet No.10 In A Flat Major, Op.118: IV: Allegretto

Disc: 5
01. String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.122: I. Introduction (Andintino)
02. String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.122: II. Scherzo (Allegretto)
03. String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.122: III. Recitative (Adagio)
04. String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.122: IV. Etude (Allegro)
05. String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.122: V. Humoresque (Allegro)
06. String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.122: VI. Elegy (Adagio)
07. String Quartet No.11 In F Minor, Op.122: VII. Conclusion (Moderato)
08. String Quartet No.12 In D Flat Major, Op.133: I. Moderato
09. String Quartet No.12 In D Flat Major, Op.133: II. Allegretto
10. String Quartet No.13 In B Flat Minor, Op.138: Adagio

Disc: 6
01. String Quartet No.14 In F Sharp Minor: I. Allegretto
02. String Quartet No.14 In F Sharp Minor: II. Adagio
03. String Quartet No.14 In F Sharp Minor: III. Allegretto
04. String Quartet No.15 In E Flat Minor: I. Elegy (Adagio)
05. String Quartet No.15 In E Flat Minor: II. Serenade (Adagio)
06. String Quartet No.15 In E Flat Minor: III. Intermezzo (Adagio)
07. String Quartet No.15 In E Flat Minor: IV. Nocturne- Adagio
08. String Quartet No.15 In E Flat Minor: V. Funeral March (Adagio molto)
09. String Quartet No.15 In E Flat Minor: VI. Epilogue (Adagio)

large palletttes of colour ,drama ,and aggressiveness

I don’t know if we can classifiy this as THE definitive reading of the life work of one of this centuries most celebrated creator,but The Borodin certainly capture in a profound way the emotive dramatic core, the essence,colour,gesture,tone and philosophic depth reflecting the weight of this century.
These Quartets inhabit a different space than the Symphonies although the two genres are always placed side by side, incorrectly I think. The Quartets had a purer conception,and they always worked best when left alone without addendums as,the Piano Quintet Op.57, included with admirable aggressive playing from Sviatoslav Richter.Here in the Quintet I thought rendered the strings as mere accompaniment,not first chair actors/ speakers. Shostakovich’s creativity always required a voice, that is one element that is shared with the Symphonies,where flute,clarinet,bassoon are given solo roles as a form of commentary on some previous atrocity,or a sense of repose,of serene reflection, and the various First Violin Solos especially that occur throughout all these works is one focus,a parallel with his immense Symphonies.The Borodin allows interpretive freedoms,like concerto soloists each role,and gives it the space it needs, as in the demonic Allegro molto from the Eighth Quartet. The Borodin continually distinguish themselves in not being afraid to play an ugly sound,a Gypsy-like gesture, as again moments from the Eighth where the viola merely marks out a chord quite obviously, with an ugly tone, or the simple provincial minor chord outlines in the Third Quartet,something a street musician might have done.
The Borodin know how to create great tension as in the opening of the Ninth Quartet,compare their reading with others as The Manhatten Quartets rather glib reading (for the lunch time crowd) of the Ninth. This tension is created by a larger dynamic gradation of sound, between what is loud and what is almost barely perceptible with The Borodin. Great drama is engaged here with biting nasal(again ugly) violin sounds always in the demonic Allegrettos throughout these works. Shostakovich’s creativity does have a one-dimensional cast like he was revealing/telling the same story over and over again waiting patiently for humanity to change. Well not in the last century. There are more hopeful utterances however as in the opening moments of the Tenth Quartet,a incredibly expansive timbral one with a large Brucknerian sound,yet framed within classic proportions. The Third Quartet as well,written right after the Second World War is positive momentarily,where more Russians perished than anyone else.
The Emerson Quartets readings,for they have a complete set, I found quite reserved,restrained,but not uninteresting opting for a more spiritual,solemn reading,with thinner overall timbres,less overall density of sound, rather than the Borodin here who bring a very large pallette of colour,drama,aggresiveness and irrationality to their playing.