Shostakovich's 15 string quartets have been widely transcribed for larger forces, from string ensemble to full orchestra.
Composition History
Shostakovich's Eighth String Quartet was written in just three days in July 1960 while the composer was working on a film score in Dresden.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The Eighth String Quartet is predominantly sombre and highly autobiographical, featuring quotations from several of Shostakovich's earlier works.
Performer Biography
Dmitry Yablonsky, a GRAMMY®-nominated cellist and conductor, began playing the cello at age five and made his orchestral debut at nine.
Interpretation
Rudolf Barshai's transcription of the Fourth String Quartet is the most 'interventionist,' adding woodwind, horns, trumpet, percussion, and timpani to emphasize its symphonic dimension.
Performer Biography
Rudolf Barshai founded the Moscow Chamber Orchestra in 1955 and conducted it until his emigration to the West in 1977.
Composer Biography
Rudolf Barshai, a violist and conductor, had a professional association with Shostakovich that lasted until the composer's death.
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