If you are looking to purchase a complete cycle of Shostakovich's quartets, I cannot tell you which to buy. Previous page of related Sponsored Products. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Please try again. 7 in F sharp minor, Op. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. Shostakovich's 15 Quartet cycle is the greatest from among 20th century chamber music and the Emerson's do it more than full justice. But don't have the time or patience for a 400-page book? You should be yourself, unless you can be a dragon. Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2013. 14 in F sharp major, Op. 133, String Quartet No. String Quartet No.1 In C Major, Op.49 (1935), String Quartet No.2 In A Major, Op.68 (1944), String Quartet No.3 In F Major, Op.73 (1946), String Quartet No.4 In D Major, Op.83 (1949), String Quartet No.5 In B Flat Major, Op.92 (1952), String Quartet No.6 In G Major, Op.101 (1956), String Quartet String Quartet No. In addition to the climactic quartets, don't miss the Eighth. Mozart: A Life From Beginning to End (Composer Biographies), Grammar for a Full Life: How the Ways We Shape a Sentence Can Limit or Enlarge Us, Chosen: Book 1 (Valkyrie Academy Dragon Alliance), A Bright Power Rising (The Golden Rule Book 1). Secondly, I thought I would enjoy an "external" interpretation of these quartets -- fresh performances of the quartets qua music with less overt "Russianness" (nothing wrong with Russianness, mind you). Despite being often criticized as shallow, I chose the Emerson set for three reasons: I have their Bartok cycle which I think is mind-blowing (I have listened to lots of other interpretations of Bartok's quartets, particularly the third and fourth, and the Emersons have everyone beat). 117 (1964), String Quartet No.10 In A Flat Major, Op.118 (1964), Allegretto (Polka) For String Quartet, Op. 81, B. Then, the choice is easy! Shostakovich's 15 quartets are a pinnacle of musical expression, the concentrated passion, suffering, and beauty of his personal survival and artistic achievement. The Emerson Quartet is stunning beyond compare. 7 In F. Sharp Minor, Op.108 (1960), String Quartet No.8 In C Minor, Op.110 (1960), String Quartet No.9 In E Flat Major, Op. Valkyrie Academy Dragon Alliance: Books 1 - 5: Chosen, Vanished, Scorned, Inflicted... Shostakovich: Complete String Quartets [7 CD], Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. Personally, I think this ensemble is oozing both passion and technical gleam - can't ask for much more than that. Recorded live at the Aspen Music Festival, the playing is superb, combining the excitement and spontaneity of a performance with utmost control and perfection; the ensemble is seamless, the sound beautiful, but not lush, varied and expressive. Finally, the Emersons recorded this set live (the only audience noise is applause at the end of each piece), and I thought that might be more intense. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. 12 in D flat major, Op. The Allegros are muscular, with sharp attacks, strong sforzandos, and relentless rhythms. The Emerson String Quartet prove once again that they can set new standards for performance of the great masterpieces. DG's live sound is crisp, clean, deep, and detailed with the audience intruding only with energetic applause. The Emerson Quartet, committed champion of contemporary music, has just released the Shostakovich quartets on a five-disc set; chronologically arranged, they reflect his growing personal and political travail. 1 in C Minor, Op. The Andantes are tuneful, with long lines, supple harmonies, and warm colors. The Emerson's interpolation. Although these are the only performances of these works I have heard and I cannot compare them favorably or unfavorably to others, I think they are very good. And the Allegrettos are aggressive, with ironic accents, sarcastic tones, and mordent tempos. 13 in B flat minor, Op. 15 Dvořák: Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. If you like your Shostakovich quartets big, brawny, and a bit brutal, you'll like the Emerson Quartet's Shostakovich quartets. Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2006. 122, String Quartet No. The rawness of the chords in the Fourth Quartet's opening movement? The liner notes are also very good and give fascinating insight into the history of the man behind these sublime compositions. They give each quartet its own distinct character and bring out the set's wildly changing moods, from sardonic, often grotesque irony bordering on desperation to profound sorrow and mournful lamentation. Also note that this has been re-released with different cover art and a much lower pricetag - no reason to pay $99 for it, though it is absolutely worth every penny. In Shostakovich, I detect the smack of a bipolar temperament.