Shostakovich String Quartets 1–6
Works by Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich
2 CDs
backTonmeister: Michael Silberhorn
Recording: Deutschlandfunk Kammermusiksaal, Köln, 2024
GEN 25908 EAN 4260036259087
Release 7.3.2025EUR 29,90
Payment methods: PayPal, credit card, bank transfer, Klarna, etc.
The Asasello-Quartet continues their project: their complete recording of all string quartets by Dmitri Shostakovich enters its second phase in honor of his 50th anniversary of death in 2025. On the program are the first six quartets by Shostakovich, marking the beginning of the most significant quartet oeuvre of the 20th century. In every note, one senses the profound familiarity of this award-winning and internationally highly regarded ensemble with the shimmering and moving works of the great Russian composer: important music, brilliantly performed!
05.09.2025: Nominated for the Annual Award of German Record Critics, Longlist 2025
Deutschlandfunk
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the composer's death, Ingo Dorfmüller reviewed the complete recording by the Asasello Quartet and presented it in the Musik-Panorama program on August 11, 2025.
Deutschlandfunk Kultur
Rainer Pöllmann spoke with Justyna Sliwa and Rostislav Kozhevnikov about the complete recording of all of Shostakovich's string quartets. The interview can be heard on the program “Tonart” from 05 August 2025.
nmz
"With this edition, the Asasello Quartet delivers an impressive testimony to its skills. All extremes of the music are played out with relentless tension: with resignation and exuberance, desperate defiance and powerless forlornness, tender lyricism and brutal harshness, vulnerability and rugged ferocity." Review by Rainer Nonnenmann, 01.07.2025
05.07.2025: Nominated for the German Record Critics Award, Longlist 3/2025
Fono Forum
"[...] Vol. II is particularly impressive because the musicians take all the depths and heights of the music seriously. [...] With great concentration and taste, the quartet places melancholy, poignant lamentation and truthfulness alongside the banal and grotesque." Review by Susanne Benda, issue 7-2025
MusicWeb International
"The quartet are able to perform with all the classical poise and technical polish that is necessary but as soon as Shostakovich creates tension their playing transforms seamlessly to the febrile intensity that characterised the intense and compelling performances of the older Soviet ensembles. Remarkable music, remarkably performed." Review by Nick Barnard, May 15, 2025
NDR Kultur - Album of the Week
"With this recording, the Asasello Quartet demonstrates its distinct sense of style for the music of Dmitri Shostakovich. It shows us an often introverted, precisely weighted composer, sometimes serious, sometimes grotesque, sometimes lyrical." Review by Christoph Vratz, March 09, 2025
WDR3 Hörstoff - neue Klassik-Alben
"Time and again, the Asasello Quartet leads us into a world of ambiguity - rebellion here, withdrawal there. Verve and vigour on the one hand, moments of brokenness on the other. Convincing!" Review by Christoph Vratz, March 07, 2025
Tonmeister: Michael Silberhorn
Recording: Deutschlandfunk Kammermusiksaal, Köln, 2024
The Asasello-Quartet continues their project: their complete recording of all string quartets by Dmitri Shostakovich enters its second phase in honor of his 50th anniversary of death in 2025. On the program are the first six quartets by Shostakovich, marking the beginning of the most significant quartet oeuvre of the 20th century. In every note, one senses the profound familiarity of this award-winning and internationally highly regarded ensemble with the shimmering and moving works of the great Russian composer: important music, brilliantly performed!
05.09.2025: Nominated for the Annual Award of German Record Critics, Longlist 2025
Deutschlandfunk
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the composer's death, Ingo Dorfmüller reviewed the complete recording by the Asasello Quartet and presented it in the Musik-Panorama program on August 11, 2025.
Deutschlandfunk Kultur
Rainer Pöllmann spoke with Justyna Sliwa and Rostislav Kozhevnikov about the complete recording of all of Shostakovich's string quartets. The interview can be heard on the program “Tonart” from 05 August 2025.
nmz
"With this edition, the Asasello Quartet delivers an impressive testimony to its skills. All extremes of the music are played out with relentless tension: with resignation and exuberance, desperate defiance and powerless forlornness, tender lyricism and brutal harshness, vulnerability and rugged ferocity." Review by Rainer Nonnenmann, 01.07.2025
05.07.2025: Nominated for the German Record Critics Award, Longlist 3/2025
Fono Forum
"[...] Vol. II is particularly impressive because the musicians take all the depths and heights of the music seriously. [...] With great concentration and taste, the quartet places melancholy, poignant lamentation and truthfulness alongside the banal and grotesque." Review by Susanne Benda, issue 7-2025
MusicWeb International
"The quartet are able to perform with all the classical poise and technical polish that is necessary but as soon as Shostakovich creates tension their playing transforms seamlessly to the febrile intensity that characterised the intense and compelling performances of the older Soviet ensembles. Remarkable music, remarkably performed." Review by Nick Barnard, May 15, 2025
NDR Kultur - Album of the Week
"With this recording, the Asasello Quartet demonstrates its distinct sense of style for the music of Dmitri Shostakovich. It shows us an often introverted, precisely weighted composer, sometimes serious, sometimes grotesque, sometimes lyrical." Review by Christoph Vratz, March 09, 2025
WDR3 Hörstoff - neue Klassik-Alben
"Time and again, the Asasello Quartet leads us into a world of ambiguity - rebellion here, withdrawal there. Verve and vigour on the one hand, moments of brokenness on the other. Convincing!" Review by Christoph Vratz, March 07, 2025
Audio Player
Tracklist
- CD1 Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich (1906–1975)
String Quartet No. 6 in G major, Op. 101
I. Allegretto - II. Moderato con moto
- III. Lento (attacca)
- IV. Lento - Allegretto
- CD1 Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 5 in B-flat major, Op. 92
I. Allegro non troppo (attacca) - II. Andante – Andantino – Andante (attacca)
- III. Moderato – Allegretto – Andante
- CD1 Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 4 in D major, Op. 83
I. Allegretto - II. Andantino
- III. Allegretto (attacca)
- IV. Allegretto
- CD2 Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 3 in F major, Op. 73
I. Allegretto - II. Moderato con moto
- III. Allegro non troppo
- IV. Adagio (attacca)
- V. Moderato
- CD2 Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 68
I. Overture: Moderato con moto - II. Recitative and Romance: Adagio
- III. Valse: Allegro
- IV. Theme with Variations
- CD2 Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich
String Quartet No. 1 in C major, Op. 49
I. Moderato - II. Moderato
- Allegro molto
- Allegro
- CD2 Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich
Elegy. Adagio (after Katerina’s Aria from the Opera “Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District” op. 29) - CD2 Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich
Polka. Allegretto (after the Polka from the Ballet “The Golden Age” op. 22)
The Asasello-Quartet continues their project: their complete recording of all string quartets by Dmitri Shostakovich enters its second phase in honor of his 50th anniversary of death in 2025. On the program are the first six quartets by Shostakovich, marking the beginning of the most significant quartet oeuvre of the 20th century. In every note, one senses the profound familiarity of this award-winning and internationally highly regarded ensemble with the shimmering and moving works of the great Russian composer: important music, brilliantly performed!
05.09.2025: Nominated for the Annual Award of German Record Critics, Longlist 2025
Deutschlandfunk
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the composer's death, Ingo Dorfmüller reviewed the complete recording by the Asasello Quartet and presented it in the Musik-Panorama program on August 11, 2025.
Deutschlandfunk Kultur
Rainer Pöllmann spoke with Justyna Sliwa and Rostislav Kozhevnikov about the complete recording of all of Shostakovich's string quartets. The interview can be heard on the program “Tonart” from 05 August 2025.
nmz
"With this edition, the Asasello Quartet delivers an impressive testimony to its skills. All extremes of the music are played out with relentless tension: with resignation and exuberance, desperate defiance and powerless forlornness, tender lyricism and brutal harshness, vulnerability and rugged ferocity." Review by Rainer Nonnenmann, 01.07.2025
05.07.2025: Nominated for the German Record Critics Award, Longlist 3/2025
Fono Forum
"[...] Vol. II is particularly impressive because the musicians take all the depths and heights of the music seriously. [...] With great concentration and taste, the quartet places melancholy, poignant lamentation and truthfulness alongside the banal and grotesque." Review by Susanne Benda, issue 7-2025
MusicWeb International
"The quartet are able to perform with all the classical poise and technical polish that is necessary but as soon as Shostakovich creates tension their playing transforms seamlessly to the febrile intensity that characterised the intense and compelling performances of the older Soviet ensembles. Remarkable music, remarkably performed." Review by Nick Barnard, May 15, 2025
NDR Kultur - Album of the Week
"With this recording, the Asasello Quartet demonstrates its distinct sense of style for the music of Dmitri Shostakovich. It shows us an often introverted, precisely weighted composer, sometimes serious, sometimes grotesque, sometimes lyrical." Review by Christoph Vratz, March 09, 2025
WDR3 Hörstoff - neue Klassik-Alben
"Time and again, the Asasello Quartet leads us into a world of ambiguity - rebellion here, withdrawal there. Verve and vigour on the one hand, moments of brokenness on the other. Convincing!" Review by Christoph Vratz, March 07, 2025
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