60 Years Anniversary Concert

For tickets call : 213 248-6870

Ruben Aharonian, violin
Andrei Abramenkov, violin
Igor Naidin, viola
Valentin Berlinsky, cello

On Saturday, April 9, living history takes the stage at the Wilshire Ebell when the Borodin Quartet — the leading Russian quartet of the second half of this century — celebrates its 60th anniversary in its only Los Angeles appearance.

The program features three classics of the Russian string-quartet repertoire: TCHAIKOVSKY's String Quartet No. 2 in F Major, Op. 22; STRAVINSKY's Three Pieces for String Quartet; and SHOSTAKOVICH's String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73.

The Borodin Quartet has a particular affinity for the Russian repertoire. This is partly due to its close relationship with Shostakovich, who personally supervised the Quartet's study of each of his quartets in the early days of the ensemble. Over the course of its career, the Borodin has made several recordings of Shostakovich's string quartets that are considered definitive.

The Quartet was founded in 1945 as the Moscow Philharmonic Quartet by four students at Moscow Conservatory. With one continuing member of the original ensemble, cellist Valentin Berlinsky, the Quartet remains strongly connected to its musical lineage. Violinist Andrei Abramenkov has been with the group for 25 years; violist Igor Naidin learned the art of quartet playing from several of the Borodins, including the Quartet's former violist, Dmitri Shebalin, whom he eventually replaced; and violinist Ruben Aharonian has won prizes at several international competitions, including the Tchaikovsky, Enescu and Montreal Competitions.

' The Borodin Quartet's performances command attention in their quiet intensity. The obsessive rhythmic patterns became like the knocking of death at the door - Shostakovich lived in constant fear of the knock by Stalin's police that would send him to his doom - and the cries and groans that concluded No 12 were etched in grief… it’s always strange to see an audience burst into instantaneous whoops and applause for a Shostakovich quartet, as Thursday's audience did…'
Andrew L Pincus, Berkeshire Eagle, 6 August 2003

'The Borodin's past mastery of the music is on a level of its own. The inner movements with their emotional violence seemed to go by in a flash, while the very long fifth movement held one's attention without an instant's respite. This was music-making of the very highest order'.
Richard Todd, The Ottawa Citizen, 4 August 2002

'What enchanting, lovely ensemble! What perfect balance! Although it sounds like a rather often used cliché, you can actually say that this is the Russian soul speaking longingly out of the instruments….'
Flensburger Tageblatt, 14 August 2000

'Valentin Berlinsky may be the only survivor from the pioneering days, but it was clear that all players had the inside track to the composer's thoughts. This was a spellbinding performance'.
Geoff Brown, The Times, 13 June 2001

'If Shostakovich were around to hear them, I'm sure he would have smiled and wept, and those of us lucky to have been in Bantry to travel the full journey with them, will probably never feel quite the same about either Shostakovich or string quartet-playing again'.
Michael Dervan, Irish Times, 2 May 2000

'Great musical traditions seldom come better preserved than that in the Borodin Quartet. The Borodins draw strength from a past that is still partly present: their cellist, Valentin Berlinsky, is a link to the
Quartet's beginnings in Moscow nearly 55 years ago, and to composers they have worked with, including Shostakovich. When they stepped out at the Wigmore Hall to give inspiring performances of his music, it was impossible not to sense a laying-on of hands'.
John Allison, The Times, 1 February 1999

Contact: 213 248-6870