Shostakovich Richter

Shostakovich - String Quartets 3, 7 & 8 / Borodin Quartet (1991)
EAC Rip, FLAC (tracks), cue, log, scans | RAR rec. 3% | 306 MB | filesonic, hotfile
Classical | Label: Virgin Classics | Time: 1:07

The Borodin Quartet commands a special position of respect in the chamber music world. In existence for more than 60 years, it has preserved a unique performance tradition, focusing on the masterpieces at the very heart of the quartet repertoire. Its interpretations are celebrated for their intensity and focus, a style in which individualism dedicates itself to the collaborative spirit of chamber music and total service of the composer’s wishes.

Not one person in a hundred knows how to be silent and listen, no, nor even to conceive what such a thing means. Yes, only then can you detect, beyond the fatuous clamour, the silence of which the universe is made.–Samuel Beckett, Molloy

After winning the Richter competition in Russia, the Van Cliburn in Texas, the Queen Elisabeth in Brussels and the Chopin in Warsaw (with a rather spectacular scandal on top of everything, related it would seem to a change of rules during the competition, which led him to refuse the prize), the Bulgarian pianist Evgeni Bozhanov (born in 1984) has now carved for himself a choice position in the piano section of the Concert des Nations with his somewhat extravagant appearance, his theatrical gestures and—yes—his extreme musicality. Here he is in the most falsely easy music that is, one of Mozart’s great concertos, and Shostakovitch's First—written for strings, solo trumpet and piano—from 1933, an early work then, but already incredibly accomplished and 100% Shostakovitch. Far from the sleight of hand that some reproach him to display on stage, Bozhanov is here completely modest, and lets the music flow between his fingers naturally and without any affectation. The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra is led by the violin by its first violin soloist and musical director, the great Radoslaw Szulc.

These performances recorded live at the 2006 Lugano Festival are examples of Martha Argerich at her best. Argerich has always been a supremely virtuosic pianist with artistic temperament to spare, and these performances embody all those qualities to the hilt. With the flashy but never self-indulgent trumpeter Sergei Nakariakov and the superbly sculpted strings of the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana led by conductor Alexander Vedernikov, Argerich turns in a concerto that is lively, witty, passionate, and funny in the finale.

Kirill Kondrashin is one of the few Russian conductors to celebrate an international career, next to Eugen Mravinsky, Igor Markewisch and Jascha Horenstein. In 1943 he became principal conductor at the Bolshoi theatre, an institution so important for Soviet musical life, to which he would belong for 13 years. In 1956 he was appointed chief conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic. This position opened doors for him internationally and Kondrashin was able to accept tour invitations from western countries.

Sonata for Violoncello and Piano No. 2 op. 63 (1959): The famous cellist Mstislav Rostropovich became acquainted with Weinberg through the agency of Shostakovich, who wrote his First Cello Concerto for this much sought-after artist in 1959. Weinberg’s Second Cello Sonata, written at the same time, may have been a response to Shostakovich’s piece, although he always stressed his artistic independence from the elder master. Rather, these two figures were connected by a fruitful dialogue. They showed each other their new works for appraisal and drew mutual inspiration from each other…..

Our series of historic radio recordings from Russian archives has proved very popular all over the world. Many people have chosen performance over recording quality. – which, when necessary, we have improved optimally. – Thus allowing themselves the infinite joy of listening to legendary performers. The musicians in this large set are all (living) legends indeed: pianists, Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, Lazar Berman, Evgeny Kissin; violinists David Oistrakh, Leonid Kogan, Viktor Tretiakov and Gidon Kremer; cellists Rostropovich and Daniel Shafran. Solo works, chamber music and works with orchestra are included.