Shostakovich: String Quartet nr. 10/Symphony for Strings op. 118a

I've known Shostakovich's op. 118 (1964) for a long time, but chiefly in the Barshai version for string orchestra (op. 118a). It's a work that in its earthy, autumnal splendour is very dear to me. Shostakovich reduces his language to almost artless simplicity. Particularly the last movement is a long, melancholy and seemingly aimless ramble. But whilst it sounds amazingly lapidary, there is solid craftsmanship behind. That's the difference with a piece like Torke's Chalk, which has the prosaicness, but misses the craftsmanship and, hence, sinks into banality.

I listened to both the transcription and the original version for string quartet. Whilst the Fitzwilliam offer a very committed reading, and Barshai's textures (in his own recording) are bit thick, overall I still prefer the orchestral version. I think it is extremely difficult as an ensemble to put the finger on the emotional point of gravity of this work, with the inner movements pulling in different directions (the furious scherzo, the bleak Adagio) and the outer movements being particularly elusive. The Fitzwilliam bring a good deal nervousness to the long finale. Barshai, on the other hand, is extremely relaxed which lends the music a wonderfully dreamlike atmosphere. Also the slightly heavier bass section underlines the bourdon character of some of the writing music, reinforcing the whiff of exoticism that is colouring the music (it was written in Armenia after all). And he shapes the movement expertly around the central climax (where the adagio theme drops in above the movement's downspiralling main theme) which is delivered more forcefully by the orchestral sized forces. So, despite the relative slowness, I find Barshai's reading is never getting dull. I wonder what the Haas Quartet would do with this score ...