SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartet No 10 in A flat

New Zealand String Quartet 2016 Photo: NZSQ

Born into a musical family in pre-revolutionary Russia, Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975) encountered political intrusion from the communist regime throughout his career, that led to both setbacks and opportunities. The 10^th string quartet was premièred in November 1964 together with the 9^th.  A festival held earlier that year to celebrate his work was the motivation for writing both in quick succession.

Shostakovich wrote as many string quartets as symphonies – 15 of each. Whereas his symphonies present emotional rawness and power on an immense scale, the quartets reveal an intimacy of voicings, utterances and connections between each of the string instruments that few symphonies could adequately capture.

This quartet has four movements:

• Andante
• Allegretto furioso
• Adagio (attacca)
• Allegretto – andante

Recorded 5 May 2019, St. Andrew's on The Terrace, Wellington by RNZ Concert

Sound engineer: Darryl Stack