The Brilliant Classics label earlier released Rudolf Barshai’s 1990s recordings of all 15 Shostakovich symphonies to great acclaim. Thus, its release of five further Barshai/Shostakovich performances raises great expectations, particularly since these are Barshai’s own famous arrangements of five of Shostakovich’s string quartets. Upon hearing, these expectations are not entirely fulfilled. It’s hard to believe that this is the string section of a major European professional symphony orchestra. Intonation, quality of timbre, and ensemble are often below-standard, particularly on the second of these two CDs, which comprises the string-only arrangements (Quartets 1, 8, & 10). The level of playing on this disc alone would disqualify the set from a recommendation. Furthermore, the recorded sound is dry, characterless, and harsh.
And then there’s Barshai. For whatever reason, these 2005 recordings are almost all heavy and dispirited. Even the Eighth Quartet comes across as bland, something I would have thought impossible. Fortunately, Barshai’s legacy in these works is secure; eminently recommendable are his circa 1990 recordings of the same arrangements for Deutsche Grammophon with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. At this writing they are available either on Australian Eloquence or in a budget nine-disc box on Decca that includes enough other fine Shostakovich recordings that the budget price is fully justified. Just be sure you don’t get this one. [1/29/2008]
