Melodiya: MELCD1000942

“The original Borodin Quartet was Soviet Russia’s star chamber ensemble and these early Melodiya recordings show them at the height of their powers. Every phrase is full of life, and the expressive range is wide, from passion to tender affection, from fiery exuberance to gentle playfulness. The Borodin’s “default” tone is ripe and intense, but the players show considerable variety of colour, with subtle nuance as well as full open-heartedness. They also have a superbly vital sense of the overall shape of both quartets: ear-catching details – of which there are plenty – are never allowed to detract from the broader sense of how each movement ebbs and flows…If you don’t need modern digital stereo, this would easily make a top recommendation.” Stephen Johnson, BBC Music Magazine