String Quartet No. 8 'Sylvia's Diary'

‘Portraits of my favourite poets used to hang on the wall next to my desk in my study. One day I realised that most of them had either committed suicide or were suicidal (like Pushkin, who repeatedly tried to fight duels). How could it be that these extremely subtle people, who bring so much joy to others with their literary works, despaired of their lives?
Suicide is still a taboo subject in our society. Yet more people die by suicide every day than by any disease or war. In my search for answers, I came across the diaries of Sylvia Plath, who took her own life at the age of 30 at the height of her poetic career. I therefore wrote my String Quartet No. 8 ‘Sylvia's Diary’ in honour of Sylvia Plath.’ (Lera Auerbach)