The English label Chandos has released a series of CDs with recordings of the Russian Borodin Quartet in the original composition. The ensemble was founded in 1945, but did not acquire the line-up in which it would become famous until 1953, and was also called 'Borodin' Quartet only since 1955. Anyone who wants to know how those personnel changes went and how the quartet got its name, should read
… 'Stormy applause'. In this book, Rotislav Dubinsky, founder and first violinist of the Borodin Quartet, recorded his memories. Dubinsky's memoirs are particularly interesting because they also talk about Shostakovich's position in the Soviet Union and the Borodin Quartet's relationship with Shostakovich. To their great regret, the Borodin Quartet was never allowed to provide the premieres of Shostakovich ' quartets - it was a kind of customary law that fell to the much older Beethoven Quartet - but close friends around Shostakovich have confirmed that they actually thought 'those guys' played better. In 'Stormy applause' there are beautiful passages about performances by Shostakovich Second, Third, Fourth and Eighth quartet. In all those stories a deep involvement radiates with the music of Shostakovich, which was seen as art that, without saying anything, was able to tell everything that was not allowed to be spoken out loud in the Soviet Union. Reason enough to listen to these performances with interest. When one realizes how much Shostakovich's music had a deep emotional value for this ensemble, it is striking how controlled it is played. Nowhere are effects milked out, nowhere does abandonment become larmoyant or exciting passages become 'only' virtuoso pieces. Here a mastery is played with that stands out for the unemphasis with which it is displayed. The fact that Quartets Nos. 14 and 15 are not included here is due to the fact that Primarius Dubinsky emigrated from the Soviet Union to Israel in 1974, before there had been an opportunity to record Shostakovich's last two quartets. Although this CD is in a sense 'incomplete', the superb level of performance makes these beautifully restored recordings a must for chamber music and Shostakovich fans. (JvG) Here a mastery is played with that stands out for the unemphasis with which it is displayed. The fact that Quartets Nos. 14 and 15 are not included here is due to the fact that Primarius Dubinsky emigrated from the Soviet Union to Israel in 1974, before there had been an opportunity to record Shostakovich's last two quartets. Although this CD is in a sense 'incomplete', the superb level of performance makes these beautifully restored recordings a must for chamber music and Shostakovich fans. (JvG) Here a mastery is played with that stands out for the unemphasis with which it is displayed. The fact that Quartets Nos. 14 and 15 are not included here is due to the fact that Primarius Dubinsky emigrated from the Soviet Union to Israel in 1974, before there had been an opportunity to record Shostakovich's last two quartets. Although this CD is in a sense 'incomplete', the superb level of performance makes these beautifully restored recordings a must for chamber music and Shostakovich fans. (JvG) Although this CD is in a sense 'incomplete', the superb level of performance makes these beautifully restored recordings a must for chamber music and Shostakovich fans. (JvG) Although this CD is in a sense 'incomplete', the superb level of performance makes these beautifully restored recordings a must for chamber music and Shostakovich fans. (JvG)more
