Dmitri Shostakovich faced his first official denunciation in 1936 for his opera Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District and the ballet The Limpid Stream, despite their initial successes with audiences and critics. Though he was forced to withdraw his Fourth Symphony, he responded to the criticism of Stalin’s rather vitriolic campaign against him with the conservative Fifth Symphony a year later. The symphony was an instant success and succeeded in returning the composer to official favor. Soon after, Shostakovich followed the symphony with the first of string quartets, which was premiered in Moscow by the Beethoven Quartet, the foremost quartet in the Soviet Union at the time. Though a diminutive work that had little in common with the popular Fifth Symphony, it greatly impressed the members of the Beethoven Quartet and a lifelong professional friendship developed between them and Shostakovich.
Eager to perform more of Shostakovich’s music, the Beethoven Quartet commissioned from him a new work that would include the piano. The composer set to work right away and completed the Piano Quintet in G minor, op. 57, his one and only essay for that ensemble, in September 1940. The Beethoven Quartet further asked the composer to perform the piano part himself, and on November 23, 1940, composer and friends premiered the work at the Moscow Conservatory. Like the Fifth Symphony, the Quintet was a triumphal success for Shostakovich. It received warm and enthusiastic praise, even from the Moscow papers which often took a cool, if not icy, approach to Shostakovich’s music. The year following its premiere, the Quintet also won the inaugural Stalin Prize. Since then, it has become one of the most beloved of Shostakovich’s chamber works, surpassed perhaps only by the Eighth String Quartet.Joseph DuBose
Located in historic Round Top, Texas, The James Dick Foundation for the Performing Arts and its sole project, The International Festival-Institute at Round Top, were founded in 1971 by world-renowned concert pianist James Dick. Begun with a handful of gifted young pianists in rented space on the town square, the project is now an internationally acclaimed European-styled music institute for aspiring young musicians and distinguished faculty. Over a thirty eight year period and with the help of its patrons and friends, The James Dick Foundation for the Performing Arts has developed superb year round education and performance programs.
Classical Music | Piano Music
Dmitry Shostakovich
Piano Quintet in g minor, op. 57 Play
Recorded on 03/11/2005, uploaded on 05/21/2009
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Dmitri Shostakovich faced his first official denunciation in 1936 for his opera Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District and the ballet The Limpid Stream, despite their initial successes with audiences and critics. Though he was forced to withdraw his Fourth Symphony, he responded to the criticism of Stalin’s rather vitriolic campaign against him with the conservative Fifth Symphony a year later. The symphony was an instant success and succeeded in returning the composer to official favor. Soon after, Shostakovich followed the symphony with the first of string quartets, which was premiered in Moscow by the Beethoven Quartet, the foremost quartet in the Soviet Union at the time. Though a diminutive work that had little in common with the popular Fifth Symphony, it greatly impressed the members of the Beethoven Quartet and a lifelong professional friendship developed between them and Shostakovich.
Eager to perform more of Shostakovich’s music, the Beethoven Quartet commissioned from him a new work that would include the piano. The composer set to work right away and completed the Piano Quintet in G minor, op. 57, his one and only essay for that ensemble, in September 1940. The Beethoven Quartet further asked the composer to perform the piano part himself, and on November 23, 1940, composer and friends premiered the work at the Moscow Conservatory. Like the Fifth Symphony, the Quintet was a triumphal success for Shostakovich. It received warm and enthusiastic praise, even from the Moscow papers which often took a cool, if not icy, approach to Shostakovich’s music. The year following its premiere, the Quintet also won the inaugural Stalin Prize. Since then, it has become one of the most beloved of Shostakovich’s chamber works, surpassed perhaps only by the Eighth String Quartet. Joseph DuBose
More music by Dmitry Shostakovich
Prelude n. 1 (from five preludes without opus number)
Trio No. 1 in c minor, Op. 8
Adagio from The Limpid Stream, Op. 39
Prelude Op.34 no.5
Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 99
Prelude n. 3 (from five preludes without opus number)
Sonata for Cello and Piano in d minor, Op. 40
Sonata for Cello and Piano in d minor, Op. 40
String Quartet no. 1, op. 49
Sonata for Cello and Piano in d minor, Op. 40
Performances by same musician(s)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4, Op. 58 (Rondo Vivace)
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, in a minor, opus 43
Piano Concerto No. 1 in b-flat minor, Op. 23
Piano Concerto No. 2 in g minor, Op. 22
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Canzone)
Piano Quintet No. 1 in d minor, Op. 89
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.43 (Variation 18)
Classical Music for the Internet Era™
Courtesy of The International Festival-Institute at Round Top
Located in historic Round Top, Texas, The James Dick Foundation for the Performing Arts and its sole project, The International Festival-Institute at Round Top, were founded in 1971 by world-renowned concert pianist James Dick. Begun with a handful of gifted young pianists in rented space on the town square, the project is now an internationally acclaimed European-styled music institute for aspiring young musicians and distinguished faculty. Over a thirty eight year period and with the help of its patrons and friends, The James Dick Foundation for the Performing Arts has developed superb year round education and performance programs.