Shostakovich String Quartet No.8 - 1st&2nd mvt 

I have heard this piece played many times by many different people but this is by far the best performance of them all - your timing was impeccable, clean and crisp and your emotion was genuine, not forced or overdone. Congratulations :)

To me its the best performance on the web actually. The first violin attack the second movement like no one else. I just cant understand why some ppl complain about the interpretation, to me its just perfection and the right way to deliver Shostakovich. I could recommend the version of the Emerson string quartet for those who liked this version (Naxos)

Con ustedes fue la primera vez que escuche esta obra hace muchísimos años. Hoy los busque específicamente para darles las gracias, porque desde ese momento se convirtió en mi favorita. Gracias!!!

Pure Beauty... Have no other words to describe it... The pacing, the strong, yet melancholic progressions... a piece of Art, no doubt.

i cannot stop staring at the cellist; he is incredible in expression and tone

Played in the dark- as it should be. This is one of the reasons that I favorited the whole piece. That and the fact that they sounded like business! Keep them coming!

We are playing this in our high school orchestra. It is one of my favorites. You did a really good!

You really are the best version on the internet, you should be proud of yourselves

This is the best damn interpretation of 2nd movement I have heard. Finally. People who read music conservatively, play it ruthlessly.

This is deeply depressing but amazingly beautifull at the same time.Our varsity orchestra played this piece and they did amazing!Im so glad I got to hear it.

This CD is definately on my list...I t touches me in all of the right places..magnificent..!!

he does indeed put himself into this piece. he makes it personal by constantly spelling out his name with the notes.

Excellent performance. Favorited.

Absolutely fantastic, both piece and performance.

by far the best version i've heard of this masterpiece

omgggggg, that was something special, one day i will play that as well as they did and pit it on youtube...be ready guyss

Amazing performance

this is my favorite recording

Viola and cello are impressive.

That was blinking amazing!! I'm studying this for my AS Music in 6th Form. MUSIC ALL THE WAY

sublime, makes me cry

The first violin is so perfect...you all are

This is TRUE EPIC POWER!!EPIC,EPIC,EPIC!!!!!!!!

you guys were on point with this piece. greattt job :D.

fantastic

J'adore!!!!!!!!

Playing this at a funeral service tomorrow...

so awesome

AWESOME!

That was fantastic, on pair with Emerson Quartet quality.

breath taking

@ThePendereckii I heard only one better performance. It was "Camerata" Quartet from Poland. Its incredible piece, That quartet plays it unbelievable!

Love.

wow.. the firs violin... wow

everytime i watch this it just get more and more fucking awsome

AHHHHHHHHH♥♥♥♥♥

@nrogers1985 i think you might like this version, though, a lot! oh, the link doesn't work here. put elina knaus into the search field. that's my sister. i filmed her violin diploma concert. enjoy!

@walltine that's really interesting. I never thought of it like that.

@InnaLee Sensational! I'll watch some of her other vids too - she's fantastic. They all are actually! As a completely random comment - I've seen a few people (cellists especially) use two music stands when playing this piece. I've been told they have really difficult page turns so it can make their life a lot easier :)

so true

now these cats can play!!!! my fav piece in da whole wiiiieeedd wooooorrrwwwllddd

Have to play the 1st violin part of this piece. Not sure yet wether I'm excited or scared.

Oh. My. God.

EPICCCCCC

EPICOSITY

6:15 OH GOD STOP TONGUING MY EARS SHOSTAKOVICH

OMG !

Great performance! Just look out for slowing down in the second movement.

movement 2 ftw

I'm pretty sure it was a kind of reply to all the critism he got from Stalin and stuff, it was a kind of memorial piece for his own funeral cause he was so depressed that no one would remember him or his work... bit tragic really. But that's what I heard cause I'm also doing for AS :) One of the most cool pieces to analyse woo:D

I think you guys sound as good as emerson on this one :)

Where are the next movements?! this was too beautiful!

Yes, fuck, yes. It´s kind like first class metal ¿isn´t it?

@walltine actually this piece was written as sort of a last testament by Shostakovich as he was preparing to commit suicide...the first movement is actually just saying that this is his own piece and nothing Stalin says or does will change that (because Stalin only promoted one type of music and sent those who didn't write that kind of nationalistic music was sent to work camps); the rest is essentially his anger for not doing what he wanted to do and allowing himself to get ordered around

@schumacherenator please excuse my error.

At 6:40 I started laughing like a maniac.

In soviet Russia Music listens to you

@kirill429 Antifascist dedication were only a cover from the authorities. It's the autobiographical composition.

now these cats can play!!!!

@sk8tersmyth yes, it is dedicated to fascism and war, and it basically represents Russia during WWII

@triviumlambofgod 4shared look it up

2 days after my birth!

i thought that was the point

hello, nice version; Too bad for the poor light on stage...

i need a score, anyone kno where to get one ?

5:19 #FTW

@kirill429 Not at all, I found the 1st violin to be acceptable.

@dragonscarz13 i will not criticize (spelling?) your opinion.

@GLaDOSsMailerDaemon Ah men scuse me XD I didn't see it was a joke, please forgive me haha!

@GLaDOSsMailerDaemon Why, I like Beethoven is my favorite and I like this. Think before to say stupidities like that

@ebstrez i thought it was written about his dipression of agreeing to take a seat with the communist party he disliked and the loss of his wife

Shostakovich was one sadistic bastard.

@glory9835 thats an odd lil fetish

dork dork dork dork dork dork dork dork dork dork dork dork dorkd dork dork

sorry, this is one of the least expressive recordings of this piece i have ever seen. the solo of the 1st violin was completely irrelevant because it was exactly as the composer wrote it except for the ad libitum. the 1st violin is not expressive in the least. i like the cello though. and for those of you who ask, i HAVE played this piece. both 1st and 2nd violins

OMG !