String Quartets:
- Shostakovich and Beethoven
I have loved many of Beethoven’s quartets over the years. The series of three quartets dedicated to Count Rasumovsky are among my favorites. And it is left for a future post for me to describe the wonder of Beethoven’s last five quartets, which include the great quartet in C-sharp Minor.
Here are some extracts of some audios from my Spotify file; this will give you a taste of the famous Rasumovsky series:
On this recording we get to enjoy the following:
Beethoven:
- String Quartet No. 8 in E minor, Op. 59 No. 2 ‘Rasumovsky No. 2’
Shostakovich:
- String Quartet No. 3 in F major, Op. 73
Performed by the Valentin Berlinsky Quartet
The Zurich-based Valentin Berlinsky Quartet, named in honor of the legendary founding cellist of the Borodin Quartet, continues its series of recordings pairing the works of Beethoven and Shostakovich.
The Valentin Berlinsky Quartet made their recording debut last year with highly acclaimed readings of Shostakovich’s String Quartets Nos. 7 and 8, and Beethoven’s first Razumovsky. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma praised their “pure music making,” while conductor David Zinman referred to this group as “a quartet that has a bright future”.
The BBC Music Magazine wrote:
“Astonishing…playing that combines technical perfection with exceptional maturity and musical insight.”
The Strad magazine wrote:
“Probing, impassioned playing that leaves no emotional stone unturned, complemented by a lucidly natural recording.”
Here is the Valentin Berlinsky Quartet, performing the slow Movement from Beethoven’s Op.59 no.2. (Rasumovsky #2)
And next, here’s something less serious: The Valentin Berlinsky Quartet plays Haydn’s quartet Op.74 number 3; the 3rd Movement:
Tags: Valentin Berlinsky Quartet, Beethoven, Shostakovich