• The latest installment in hänssler CLASSIC’s critically acclaimed survey of the chamber music of Shostakovich and Weinberg

• Breath-taking performances of two masterworks from the Soviet Era.

• This is the debut recording on hänssler CLASSIC of the award-winning Szymanowski-Quartett, together with the critically acclaimed pianist, Matthias Kirschnereit. BOTH are artists you should know about!

The present program is a continuation of hänssler CLASSIC’s exploration of the music of Shostakovich and his friend, the composer Mieczysław Weinberg. The two composers often exchanged both ideas and admiration and while at one time regarded as one of Shostakovich’s lesser imitators, Weinberg’s music has emerged as standing on its own, expressing both a passionate depth of emotion and natural gift for melody not found in the works of his more famous friend. While both works share superficial similarities (each has five movements and is written in a minor key), they stand in sharp contrast to each other. Weinberg’s monumental Quintet inhabits a fractured world of beauty, torment and tragedy written at the height of the Second World War. While Shostakovich’s Pre-War piece draws upon Baroque and Classical forms and is primarily a melodic, lyrical work that strikes extraordinary balances between each of the strings and the piano.

Founded in Warsaw in 1995, the Szymanowski-Quartett has developed into one of the most exceptional international string quartets of its generation. Their sophisticated programs present a perfect balance between intellect and passion, characteristics with which the Szymanowski-Quartett captivates its audiences at prestigious festivals and concert halls in Europe, the United States, Asia, Australia and South America. For this special program of Soviet chamber music, Matthias Kirschnereit joins the Szymanowskis. Kirschbereit is currently one of the most interesting and sought-after German pianists of his generation, whose performances during the 2006 Mozart Year celebrations, established him as one of the leading Mozarteans of our time.