Walton: String Quartet in A Minor – Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 3 in F Major
11/4/2022, 9 Tracks, 1:00:46
Featuring
Tamsin Waley-Cohen
Emma Parker
Ann Beilby
Nathaniel Boyd
Albion Quartet
Sir William Walton
Dmitri Shostakovich
Did you know?
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Composition History
Shostakovich's Third String Quartet was withdrawn shortly after its premiere, possibly due to its five-movement structure and mood resembling his much-criticized Ninth Symphony.
Composer Biography
William Walton, the composer of the String Quartet in A minor, spent the war years writing film soundtracks, including Laurence Olivier's Henry V in 1944, after his London home was bombed in 1941.
Historical Context
In 1946, the use of atomic bombs and nuclear tests, along with political tensions between former Allies, led to Winston Churchill's famous 'iron curtain' phrase.
Performer Biography
The Albion Quartet, formed in 2016, consists of four young UK string players who are rapidly establishing themselves on the international stage.
Composition History
Dmitri Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 3 was premiered on December 16, 1946, in Moscow by the Beethoven String Quartet, possibly to coincide with Beethoven's birthday.
Instruments
The members of the Albion Quartet play on a fine collection of instruments, including a Stradivarius and a Guarnerius.
Historical Context
Both William Walton and Dmitri Shostakovich completed their string quartets in 1946, immediately after World War II, a time of conflicting emotions, relief, mourning, and new anxieties.
