The Sorrel Quartet approaches Shostakovich’s string quartets Nos. 8, 9, and 13 with tremendous energy, vigor, and an emotional intensity that reveals their deep feelings about the music. Quartet No. 8 fairly boils over in the allegro molto second movement, while the Sorrel invests No. 9’s finale with an astonishing, passionate intensity (and speed). At the other extreme, the Sorrel’s darkly passionate reading of No. 13 (with its despairing solo cello opening) heightens the music’s gloom. These three undeniably powerful readings miss only the sense of identification with the music that is ever-present on the Fitzwillam Quartet’s complete set on Decca.
The Fitzwilliam brings to these works an authenticity that reflects its close personal association with the composer, and the ensemble’s magical realization of the music’s shifting moods and dynamic shadings results in readings that are tauter, colder, and more grim (No. 9) while creating palpable feelings of terror, anxiety (No. 8), and desolation (No. 13). However, for listeners not ready to dive head-first into all 15 Shostakovich quartets, the Sorrel’s well played, characterful recording (presented in a large, reverberant acoustic) makes a safe, reliable starting point.
