Two years after their debut album, Haydn: String Quartets with Naxos Classics, the Goldmund Quartet, now signed to Berlin Classics, returns with a new recording dedicated to the genius of Dmitri Shostakovich. The album will feature two of Shostakovich’s works: String Quartets 3 & 9.
According to Shostakovich, the String Quartets served as a way to express his most intimate thoughts; however, in the spirit of musical trends, the real meaning is often hidden behind a wall of glacial irony—distorted and enlarged until reaching his typical, grotesque, violent peaks.
The Goldmund Quartet has phenomenal control of dynamics and complex rhythmic demands, and offers a clear, thoughtful, and very convincing vision of these two works.
The third movement of the String Quartet No. 3 (already available for streaming) stands as a perfect example to the solidity of the entire release; it is technically brilliant and faithful to the score. In addition, it fully reflects the unofficial title given by the composer during their first performance in 1946: Forces of War Unleashed.
The Goldmund Quartet embodies all of the necessary qualities for making these two masterpieces a strong experience for the listener, confirming their position as one of the most exciting young string quartets in Europe.
Berlin Classics will officially release Goldmund Quartet, Shostakovich String Quartets 3 & 9 on July 20, 2018.
