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Background:

• Shostakovich was the Soviet Union's most outstanding composer achieving almost iconic status in his lifetime. He was a patriotic Russian, a loyal communist and a willing part of the elite. Publicly he identified himself with the Soviet Union's political system, but privately he refused to accept its cultural restrictions, and at times, he pushed artistic innovation to the limits of political acceptance.
• 15 string quartets were written. The most famous is No. 8. Whilst working on the film-score for “Five Days – Five Nights” he composed this quartet. It took him just three days, from the 12th to the 14th of July. In the USSR the quartet was referred to as the 'Dresden Quartet.' Shostakovich gave it a dedication which firmly identified it with the tragic: 'In Remembrance of the Victims of Fascism and War.' The sombre dedication fits well with the gravity of the quartet whose moods throughout its five movements reflect various shades of black. The anguish of the quartet, according to Shostakovich, reflected his thoughts on visiting the ruined city.
• Soviet ideology and the practice of communism influenced Shostakovitch’s music. Throughout his works he makes intensive use of musical quotations from songs, operettas and operas, all of which have, of course, textual content. His compositions contain, like many composers before him, encryptions achieved through numbers and the letters associated with notes. As a result Shostakovich's works give an impression of containing covert messages.

Recordings:

• Walton String Quartet in A Minor, Shostakovich String Quartet No. 3 in F Major.
  Albion Quartet.
  Signum Classics.
  Gramophone Magazine (2022): Editor’s Choice.
  Gramophone Magazine (2022): Critics’ Choice.

• String Quartets 1 – 6.
  Asasello Quartett.
  Genuin.

• The Complete String Quartets & Piano Quintet.
  Borodin Quartet.
  Decca.

• Complete String Quartets.
  Volume 1: Nos. 1 – 5.
  Volume 2: Nos. 6 – 12.
  Volume 3: Nos. 13. – 15.
  Cuarteto Casals
  Harmonia Mundi.

• The Complete String Quartets.
  Quatuor Danel.
  Accentus Music.
  International Classical Music Awards (2025): Nominated Chamber Music.

• Prism I: Beethoven, Shostakovich, Bach.
  String Quartet No. 15 in E Flat Minor, Op. 144.
  Danish String Quartet.
  ECM.
  Grammy Awards (2019): Nominee Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance.

• String Quartets.
  Emerson String Quartet.
  Deutsche Grammophon.
  Grammy Awards (2000): Best Chamber Music Recording.
  Grammy Awards (2000): Classical Album of the Year.
  Gramophone Awards (2000): Winner Chamber.

• The String Quartets.
  Fitzwilliam String Quartet.
  Decca.
  Gramophone Awards (1977): Winner Chamber.

• String Quartets Nos. 2, 7 & 10.
  Jerusalem Quartet.
  BIS.
  BBC Music Magazine (2025): Recording of the Month.
  Gramophone Magazine (2025): Editor’s Choice.
  The New York Times: Best Classical Music Albums of 2025.

• String Quartets 2, 7, 8.
  Pavel Haas Quartet.
  Supraphon.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2019).
  Presto Recordings of the Year (2019): Finalist.
  The Times Records of the Year (2019).
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2023): Recommended Recording.

• Complete String Quartets.
  Shostakovich String Quartet.
  Alto.

• Piano Quintet, String Quartet No. 2.
  Takacs Quartet.
  Hyperion.
  Presto Recording of the Week(2015).
  Presto Recordings of the Year (2015): Finalist.

About Coram Deo

Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.