
Little known in the West and victim of anti-Semitic ostracism in the
former USSR, the name of WEINBERG, the third great ‘Russian’ composer
of the 20th century, after Prokofiev and Shostakovich, seems to be
slowly emerging from the shadow of the latter, his protector and
friend. Far from being an epigone, he is rather, by his temperament as
a symphonist and the importance of his chamber music, the spiritual
heir. This part of his vast catalogue, not written to put food on the
table, includes 17 quartets, the most experimental body of his work
along with his sonatas, those for cello, written with Rostropovich in
mind, being henceforth consecrated.
PRD/DSD 250 253
