The String Quartet

Mieczyslaw Weinberg (1919-1996) – String Quartet No. 6, in E-flat, opus 35 (1946)

1. Allegro semplice, 2. Presto agitato, 3. Allegro con fuoco, 4. Adagio, 5. Moderato commodo, 6. Andante maestoso
   Performers: Quatuor Danel
   CD: CPO
2. Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) – String Quartet No. 4, in D major, opus 83 (1949)
   1. Allegretto, 2. Andantino, 3. Allegretto, 4, Allegretto
   Performers: Quatuor Danel
   CD: Alpha Classics

After the war, Shostakovich and Weinberg became close friends. But both also had to keep a low profile, apprehensive of state criticism of their work. Consequently, Weinberg’s voluminous Sixth String Quartet in E minor, opus 35, remained hidden for a long time and experienced its first performance in 2007. A few years later, in 1949, Shostakovich completed his Fourth String Quartet in D-gr.t., opus 83. This work also remained in the portfolio for a long time, until after Stalin’s death.