Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 4, Op.83

Introduction

Dmitri Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 4 in D major, op. 83, was composed in 1949. It was premiered in Moscow in 1953 and is dedicated to the memory of Pyotr Vilyams (1902–1947), the artist and set designer.

It has four movements:

1. Allegretto
2. Andantino
3. Allegretto -
4. Allegretto

Playing time is approximately 25 minutes.

This string quartet is notable for the second movement's sustained, passionate first violin part, which rises to ecstatic heights, and also for the suspenseful and complex last movement.