Dmitri Shostakovich composed his Eighth String Quartet in C minor, Op. 110, in just three days in July 1960 while in Dresden.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in October 2010 at Studio Ernest Ansermet, RSR, in Geneva, with Yannick Callier as the musical director.
Compositional Technique
The Eighth String Quartet incorporates Shostakovich's musical initials, D-S-C-H (D-E flat-C-B natural), as its basic theme.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Shostakovich stated that he composed his Eighth String Quartet as a memorial to himself, believing no one else would write one after his death.
Compositional Technique
The Eighth String Quartet extensively quotes themes from Shostakovich's earlier works, including his First and Eighth Symphonies, Trio, Cello Concerto, and Lady Macbeth.
Performer Biography
The Byron Quartet, formed by musicians from different European countries, began their training at the Haute Ecole de Musique in Geneva under Gábor Takács-Nagy.
Historical Context
Shostakovich's decision to join the Communist Party in September 1960, despite his previous dissent, was a major personal crisis that influenced his Eighth String Quartet.
