Emerson String Quartet: Shostakovich Cycle - Part 3
Poised on a knife edge between revealing and concealing personal meanings, Shostakovich’s middle three quartets are played by the renowned Emerson Quartet.
The third concert in the Emerson Quartet’s ongoing Shostakovich cycle brings to life some of the composer’s finest works in this genre.
The Seventh Quartet, condensed and lamenting, pays tribute to the memory of the composer’s first wife.
Next comes perhaps the most famous, No.8, which the composer is said to have seen as his own epitaph.
It dates from a time when Shostakovich was experiencing some of his darkest times under the Soviet regime.
When one ensemble played it to him, hoping for his comments, ‘Shostakovich, overwhelmed by this beautiful realisation of his most personal feelings, buried his head in his hands and wept’.
Its dedication, ‘To the victims of fascism and the war’, seems an official directive.
The concert closes with No.9, dedicated to his second wife, whom he married two years before completing it.
The Emerson Quartet kick off the evening in a free pre-concert talk with Professor Laura Tunbridge, reflecting on over 45 years of performing string quartets around the world.
The Emerson Quartet’s cycle continues with two further concerts next season.
Performers
- Emerson String Quartet
Repertoire
- Shostakovich: String Quartet No.7 in F sharp minor, Op.108; String Quartet No.8 in C minor, Op.110
- Interval
- Shostakovich: String Quartet No.9 in E flat, Op.117
- Encore:
- Bach: Chorale-prelude, Vor deinen Thron tret' ich, BWV.668 (fragment) arr. Udo Wesseipe for string quartet
Need to know
Queen Elizabeth Hall at 6pm: pre-concert talk. The Emerson String Quartet in conversation with Professor Laura Tunbridge reflect on over 45 years of performing string quartets around the world. Admission free.
Find out more and book the other two concerts that are currently available in the Emerson String Quartet: Shostakovich Cycle using the links below.
Emerson String Quartet: Shostakovich Cycle – Part 1
Emerson String Quartet: Shostakovich Cycle – Part 2
Dates & times
Price
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- Concessions25%**
* Excludes £3.50 booking fee.
** Limited availability. Read about concessions.
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