Episode 289: 19289 Weinbert String Quartets

Mieczysław Weinberg (1919–1996) was one of the most prolific composers of the Soviet era. He enjoyed a period of popularity in Russia during the 1960s (he called them his ‘starry years’), but his music has only been widely heard in the West since a revival of interest in the second decade of the 21st century. Weinberg was born in Warsaw, to a musical Jewish family. His early life, and his musical outlook, were shaped by his experiences during the Second World War. In 1939, the year he graduated from the Warsaw Conservatory, Weinberg led Poland ahead of the German invasion—all of his immediate family perished in the Holocaust. He moved to Minsk but was soon evacuated by the Soviet authorities to Tashkent. From there, he made contact with Dmitri Shostakovich, who was impressed with Weinberg’s music, and the two composers became lifelong friends. Shostakovich facilitated Weinberg’s move to Moscow in 1943, where he resided until his death.Serenade for Orchestra, Op. 47 No. 41 I. Allegretto 5:462 II. Allegro molto 4:453 III. Adagio 4:244 IV. Allegro giocoso 5:56USSR State Radio OrchestraAlexander Gauk, conductorString Quartet No. 7 in C Major, Op. 595 I. Adagio 8:026 II. Allegretto 5:467 III. Adagio – Allegro moderato 11:58String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 668 String Quartet No. 8 (in one movement) 15:31Borodin String Quartet Sinfonietta No. 2, Op. 749 I. Allegro 3:2810 II. Allegretto 4:0411 III. Adagio 4:0412 IV. Andantino 5:09Moscow Chamber OrchestraRudolf Barshai, conductor Help support our show by purchasing this album  at:Downloads (classicalmusicdiscoveries.store) Classical Music Discoveries is sponsored by Uber and Apple Classical. @CMDHedgecock#ClassicalMusicDiscoveries #KeepClassicalMusicAlive#CMDGrandOperaCompanyofVenice #CMDParisPhilharmonicinOrléans#CMDGermanOperaCompanyofBerlin#CMDGrandOperaCompanyofBarcelonaSpain#ClassicalMusicLivesOn#Uber#AppleClassical Please consider supporting our show, thank you!Donate (classicalmusicdiscoveries.store) [email protected] This album is broadcast with the permission of Sean Dacy from Rosebrook Media.