Shostakovich - Complete String Quartets [Box set]

I agree with the other reviewer. There are too many superlatives that one could use to review this set. The music is made to sound both ravishing and frightening. These performances are among the very best that are available on recorded format, if not THE very best, and are something of a reference work because the Borodins worked so closely with Shostakovich throughout his life, and the composer shared many exclusive insights with them. In fact, the Borodins frequently performed Shostakovich's Piano Quintet with Shostakovich himself at the piano, and there was a very famous concert that they all gave of that work in Gorky in 1964 which was the composer's last public peformance as a pianist. People in the audience cried, hugged each other and held hands as Shostakovich walked off stage. The Borodins' recordings were the first publicly available recordings of the quartets in many countries, including USSR, Germany, USA and Japan, and Shostakovich wrote to them in December 1964 after hearing recorded performances by them and said "Accept my deep gratitude for your superb performance of my quartets." That is certainly a top recommendation!! The Borodin Quartet here is the second reformation of the quartet. The second reformed quartet was established in 1972 and had 2 members from the original band - Shebalin (viola) and Berlinsky (cello). The original Quartet undertook a complete recording of the Shostakovich quartets but only got to quartet 13. All of their recordings are available in an excellent set that has been issued by Chandos, who have remastered them. It is much admired. The complete set recorded by the second reformed Quartet (all 15 quartets) is what is reissued here. These recordings date from 1978 to 1983. They have long been quite difficult to get. Melodiya had previously issued them as a complete set, but that went out of production quite a while ago, and as a result that issue is now at a premium price (if you can get it). This new reissue is the same set, and I expect will probably be snapped up by Shostakovich enthusiasts pretty quickly. It is interesting to note the differences between the way the 2 quartets perform the works - there are some interesting differences of tempi and colour. The new Melodiya issue is excellently recorded and the sound quality is superb, very warm and immediate throughout. Included is the Piano Quintet, with Sviatoslav Richter at the piano, who also collaborated with Shostakovich. That is a live recording from the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory in 1983. There is also the little known early work Two Pieces for String Octet opus 11 (played with the Prokofiev Quartet). The packaging of the new Melodiya set is a bit of a surprise - it is made from cardboard and resembles a mini pizza box!! Quite charming in its own way, and I suspect will add to the collectability of the set if kept in good condition. It does suit the theme of the artwork - the Russian abstractist Malevitch. Makes a change from all the heavy non-environmentally friendly plastic we get in the West! The notes are very good indeed, very full and informative, translated from the original Russian. Each work gets a mini essay (except the opus 11 work, which gets no mention, which is a shame and is the only grumble I have but its not much of a grumble). I already have the original Borodin Quartet recordings as well as the Fitzwilliam's super set, and the Eder Quartet's recordings on Naxos, which I also think are excellent. I welcome this new reissue and recommend it completely. As the last reviewer said, grab it while you can as it wont be around for long. When you get it, sit back and wallow!!

D. Shostakovich: Complete Quartets
I first met Shostakovich's string quartets through the collection of DG with the Emerson quartet. I loved them immediately. Members of Emerson quartet are fine musicians. And they did their homework. For example in page 23 of the booklet Philip Setzer says that Harlow Robinson (a Shostakovich scholar) told him that the three terrifying chords at the opening of the fourth movement of the eighth quartet was a common signal that KGB had entered the room. So we have four qualified musicians, skilled, with emotional intelligence and with passion. But they have a disadvantage. They did not live there. Members of Borodin quartet lived there. And they have rage. How can any western musician have the experience of those people. Listening to Borodin's performance made me forget everything else.

What can I say? If you can only buy one set of Shostakovich string quartets this, in my humble opinion, is it. Melodiya have done a nice job remastering this incredible set. Buy it before it disappears once again.