Malvern Concert Club: Brodsky Quartet – Quartets 1, 2 & 3

(Introductory note to Quartets 1-3 by Paul Cassidy)

The intimacy of bringing a child into the world inspired Shostakovich to turn to that most intimate of all musical forces, the string quartet. Rather like a child, his first quartet is small scale – full of innocence and wonder, becoming more and more spirited, fun-filled and daring.

His second quartet could not be more different. It is a colossal tour de force. The celebratory first movement is followed by one of the most captivating slow movements ever; a wondrous fusion of baroque and jazz. A whirlwind scherzo gives way to a magnificent set of variations which build in speed to a huge life affirming ending.

In the third quartet, we find Shostakovich in unmistakable voice. This extraordinary work takes us on an emotional roller coaster ride from happy-go-lucky, through war and death, to a place where, if you’ve survived, your brow-beaten, exhausted mind tries to make sense of it all.