Borodin Quartet
Encyclopedia
The Borodin Quartet is a string quartet
that was founded in 1945 in the former Soviet Union
. It is one of the world's longest lasting string quartets, marking its 60th anniversary season in 2005.
The quartet was one of the Soviet Union's best-known in the West during the Cold War era, through concert performances in the United States and Europe and through distribution of their recordings.
The quartet had a close relationship with composer Dmitri Shostakovich
, who personally consulted with them on each of his quartets. They also performed with the pianist Sviatoslav Richter
on many occasions. They have recorded all of Shostakovich's string quartets as well as all of Beethoven
's quartets. Their many recordings include works by a wide range of composers on the Melodiya
, Teldec
, Virgin Records
, Chandos Records
labels.
The original Borodin quartet's sound was characterised by an almost symphonic volume and a highly developed ability to phrase whilst maintaining group cohesion. Although it has seen many changes in personnel over its life span, all members of the quartet have been graduates of the Moscow Conservatory
.
on cello, Rostislav Dubinsky and Nina Barshai on first and second violins and Rudolf Barshai
on viola, all members of a class taken by Mikhail Terian, the viola player of the Comitas Quartet. Originally Mstislav Rostropovich
was the cellist but he withdrew after a few weeks in favour of Berlinsky.
The quartet first met Dmitri Shostakovich
in 1946 and became his interpreter. In due course they became known for their performances of all the quartets in the Shostakovich quartet canon (eventually numbering 15 quartets) at concert halls around the world.
As one of the most revered groups during the Communist era, the quartet performed at the funerals of both Joseph Stalin
and Sergei Prokofiev
, who both died on the same day in 1953.
In 1955 the quartet was renamed after Alexander Borodin
, one of the founders of Russian chamber music
.
In the Soviet era their concert engagements and repertoire were directed by the state concert organisation, Gosconcert on the basis of maximum revenue. This was irksome to the performers and to Western concert organisers.
After 20 years with the same line-up, difficult times followed in the 1970s: Dubinsky defected to the West, and the second violinist, Yaroslav Alexandrov, retired due to ill-health. Having recruited replacements, Berlinsky insisted that the ensemble spend two years out of sight until the Borodin sound had been fully recreated.
In his 1989 book, Stormy Applause, Dubinsky suggested disharmony, power struggles and betrayal to the authorities by Berlinsky, who admitted being a Communist Party
member. Berlinsky, for his part, dismissed the book as being “full of half truths”. Whatever the truth of such stories, Berlinsky's record of serving for 62 years in one of the world's most renowned string quartets was a singular achievement, possibly unique in the history of the genre.
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
that was founded in 1945 in the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. It is one of the world's longest lasting string quartets, marking its 60th anniversary season in 2005.
The quartet was one of the Soviet Union's best-known in the West during the Cold War era, through concert performances in the United States and Europe and through distribution of their recordings.
The quartet had a close relationship with composer Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
, who personally consulted with them on each of his quartets. They also performed with the pianist Sviatoslav Richter
Sviatoslav Richter
Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter was a Soviet pianist well known for the depth of his interpretations, virtuoso technique, and vast repertoire. He is widely considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.-Childhood:...
on many occasions. They have recorded all of Shostakovich's string quartets as well as all of Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
's quartets. Their many recordings include works by a wide range of composers on the Melodiya
Melodiya
Melodiya is a Russian record label. It was the state-owned major record company/label of the Soviet Union.-History:It was established in 1964 as the "All-Union Gramophone Record Firm of the USSR Ministry of Culture Melodiya"...
, Teldec
Teldec
The Teldec is a German record label in Hamburg, Germany. Today the label is a property of Warner Music Group.-History:...
, Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
, Chandos Records
Chandos Records
Chandos Records is an independent classical music recording company based in Colchester, Essex, in the United Kingdom, founded in 1979 by Brian Couzens.- Background :...
labels.
The original Borodin quartet's sound was characterised by an almost symphonic volume and a highly developed ability to phrase whilst maintaining group cohesion. Although it has seen many changes in personnel over its life span, all members of the quartet have been graduates of the Moscow Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
.
History
The quartet was formed as the Moscow Conservatoire Quartet with Mstislav RostropovichMstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, KBE , known to close friends as Slava, was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He was married to the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. He is widely considered to have been the greatest cellist of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest of...
on cello, Rostislav Dubinsky and Nina Barshai on first and second violins and Rudolf Barshai
Rudolf Barshai
Rudolf Borisovich Barshai was a Soviet/Russian conductor and violist.Barshai was born in Stanitsa Lobinskaya, Krasnodar Krai, and studied at the Moscow Conservatory under Lev Tseitlin and Vadim Borisovsky. He performed as a soloist as well as together with Sviatoslav Richter, David Oistrakh, and...
on viola, all members of a class taken by Mikhail Terian, the viola player of the Comitas Quartet. Originally Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, KBE , known to close friends as Slava, was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He was married to the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. He is widely considered to have been the greatest cellist of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest of...
was the cellist but he withdrew after a few weeks in favour of Berlinsky.
The quartet first met Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
in 1946 and became his interpreter. In due course they became known for their performances of all the quartets in the Shostakovich quartet canon (eventually numbering 15 quartets) at concert halls around the world.
As one of the most revered groups during the Communist era, the quartet performed at the funerals of both Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
and Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who mastered numerous musical genres and is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century...
, who both died on the same day in 1953.
In 1955 the quartet was renamed after Alexander Borodin
Alexander Borodin
Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin was a Russian Romantic composer and chemist of Georgian–Russian parentage. He was a member of the group of composers called The Five , who were dedicated to producing a specifically Russian kind of art music...
, one of the founders of Russian chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
.
In the Soviet era their concert engagements and repertoire were directed by the state concert organisation, Gosconcert on the basis of maximum revenue. This was irksome to the performers and to Western concert organisers.
After 20 years with the same line-up, difficult times followed in the 1970s: Dubinsky defected to the West, and the second violinist, Yaroslav Alexandrov, retired due to ill-health. Having recruited replacements, Berlinsky insisted that the ensemble spend two years out of sight until the Borodin sound had been fully recreated.
In his 1989 book, Stormy Applause, Dubinsky suggested disharmony, power struggles and betrayal to the authorities by Berlinsky, who admitted being a Communist Party
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
member. Berlinsky, for his part, dismissed the book as being “full of half truths”. Whatever the truth of such stories, Berlinsky's record of serving for 62 years in one of the world's most renowned string quartets was a singular achievement, possibly unique in the history of the genre.
Discography
TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I. / SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: String Quartets (Borodin String Quartet) (NTSC) Medici Arts DVD 2072298External links
- The Borodin Quartet Official Website
- The Borodin Quartet at The Voice of Russia
- The page of The Borodin Quartet at Moscow Philarmonic's site