Borodin Quartet – Alto CD

Mieczysław Weinberg (1919-96) String Quartets Nos.7 & 8 Serenade Op.47/4; Sinfonietta No.2

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:48:34 +0000

These earliest and rare Weinberg (Vainberg) Russian recordings were too early to be reviewed then even if ever issued … “(In 1994), with only 14 months to live, Weinberg celebrated his 75th birthday … he lived just long enough to witness a new wave of interest. A series of CDs began in the 1990s, and his friend Tommy Persson (the Swedish judge who had brought medicines which almost certainly gave the composer a few extra years of life) was able to present Weinberg with (some of) those issues … the broadcaster and documentary maker Per Skans, went straight to the point, describing Weinberg’s neglect as ‘scandalous’. How gratifying for Persson that his underwriting of several CDs that appeared then not only kept the music alive for specialist collectors but touched off what has been described in Russia as the ‘Weinberg boom’. [David Fanning article for Gramophone].

Serenade for Orchestra, Op.47 No.4 [20:52]

1 I. Allegretto 5:46

2 II. Allegro molto 4:45

3 III. Adagio 4:24

4 IV. Allegro giocoso 5:56

USSR State Radio Orchestra / Alexander Gauk (rec. 1956)

String Quartet No.7 in C major, Op.59 [25:47]

5 I. Adagio 8:02

6 II. Allegretto 5:46

7 III. Adagio – Allegro moderato 11:58

Borodin String Quartet (1st issued 1960)

String Quartet No.8 in C minor, Op.66 [15:31]

8. String Quartet No.8 (single mvt.)

Borodin String Quartet (1st issued 1961)

Sinfonietta No.2, Op.74 [16:46]

9 I. Allegro 3:28

10 II. Allegretto 4:04

11 III. Adagio 4:04

12 IV. Andantino 5:09

Moscow Chamber Orchestra / Rudolf Barshai (1st issued 1962)

Mieczysław Weinberg (1919-96) Piano Quintet / Moldavian Rhapsody / Violin Concerto

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:47:04 +0000

“the Piano Quintet does full justice to the densely packed chords and widely spaced spread of sound which Weinberg avowedly learnt from his mentor Shostakovich. It is engaging, expertly written and played with great address by the composer himself … To survive so much terror and retain such creative energy compels admiration. The Quintet may seem more rewarding for the surprising range of invention (eg. wild Irish fiddle). The performance is admirable. … Shostakovich declared how impressed he was with the Violin Concerto ‘splendidly interpreted by the violinist-Communist L.Kogan’ (a tart reference to Kogan’s politics.) This must be an authoritative performance … Kogan deals magnificently with a violin part that is seldom silent … Not surprisingly, Rhapsody on Moldavian Themes carries suggestions of the Enescu of the Romanian Rhapsodies. It receives a splendidly vigorous performance by Oistrakh” (Gramophone)

Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op.18 (1944) [40:00]

Mieczysław Weinberg, (piano); with the Borodin Quartet

[1] I. Moderato con moto 7:31

[2] II. Allegretto 5:56

[3] III. Presto 5:14

[4] IV. Largo 12:56

[5] V. Allegro agitato 8:21

[6] Rhapsody on Moldavian Themes, Op.47/2 (1949) 9:41

David Oistrakh (violin) & Mieczysław Weinberg (piano),

Violin Concerto in G minor, Op.67 (1959) [25:33]

Leonid Kogan, (violin), with Moscow P.O/ Kirill Kondrashin

[7] I. Allegro molto 7:02

[8] II. Allegretto 5:59

[9] III. Adagio 6:14

[10] IV. Allegro risoluto 6:17

Debussy: String Quartet / Sonata for Cello Ravel: String Quartet : Introduction & Allegro

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:36 +0000

(Cello Sonata) “triumphant … Rostropovich’s own superb playing in a variety of styles, admirably partnered by Britten (an outstanding chamber music pianist), a splendid performance of the Debussy sonata … notable for its sensitivity, fluidity and fantasy, and the remarkable rapport evidently existing between these two artists” (Gramophone) (Ravel): “beauty & subtlety of Ravel’s sublime septet are marvellously realised by this account…great delicacy of feeling…superb in every way … Osian Ellis’ fine musicianship…fine technique and musicality” (Penguin Guide) (Quartets: Not Reviewed UK)

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
String Quartet in G minor, Op.10

[1] I. Animé et très décidé 6:16
[2] II. Assez vif et bien rythmé 3:33
[3] III. Andantino, doucement expressif 7:03
[4] IV. Très modéré – En animant peu à peu
– Très mouvementé et avec passion 7:14
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
String Quartet in F major
The Borodin Quartet
[5] I. Allegro moderato – très doux 8:37
[6] II. Assez vif – très rythmé 6:19
[7] III. Très lent 10:24
[8] IV. Vif et agité 5:06
Claude Debussy: Sonata for Cello & Piano
[9] I. Prologue: Lent, sostenuto e molto risoluto 5:05
[10] II. Sérénade: Modérément animé 3:26
[11] III. Finale: Animé, léger et nerveux 3:47
Maurice Ravel: Introduction & Allegro
[12] Introduction and Allegro for harp,
flute, clarinet and string quartet 10:15

Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No.2 / Souvenir de Florence (sextet)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:13 +0000

‘The Second Quartet in particular is a most memorable piece, with its first-movement fusion of song, dance and symphonic rhetoric, its action-packed sequences and strong melodies. (Souvenir): Rostropovich is, of course, a compelling presence … driving tempos, distinguished solo work and an overall interpretation that is notably exciting in its own right.’ (Gramophone) ‘Both their earlier recordings (as here) are unassailable recommendations. Look no further’ (Penguin Guide 3 stars)

String Quartet No.2 in F major, Op.22 [35:03]

[1] Adagio – Moderato assai 11:36
[2] Scherzo: Allegro giusto 5:23
[3] Andante ma non tanto 12:23
[4] Finale: Allegro con moto 5:40

Souvenir de Florence (sextet) in D minor, Op.70 [33:54]
Also with Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) and Genrikh Talalyan (viola)

[5] I. Allegro con spirito 10:11
[6] II. Adagio cantabile e con moto 10:31
[7] III. Allegretto moderato 6:17
[8] IV. Allegro con brio e vivace 6:53

Borodin Quartet play Haydn & Mozart favourites Haydn String Quartet Op.64/5 ‘The Lark’ Mozart String Quartet No 15, K421; Clarinet Quintet K581

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:13 +0000

‘

1st issue in west: „(One of the few Soviet groups) often given permission to play outside the USSR, the Borodin Quartet became internationally famous through concerts and recordings and they became particularly associated with the works of Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky.“ (James Murray)

F. Josef Haydn: String Quartet in D major, Op.64 No.5 ‘Lark’ [18:59]

[1] Allegro moderato 6:44
[2] Adagio cantabile 6:17
[3] Menuetto: Allegretto 3:43
[4] Finale: Vivace 2:13

W.A. Mozart: String Quartet No.15 in D minor, K421/417b [20:31]

[5] Allegro 5:15
[6] Andante 6:22
[7] Menuetto: Allegretto 3:46
[8] Allegro ma non troppo – Piu allegro 5:05

W.A. Mozart: Quintet in A major for Clarinet & String Quartet, K581 [28:15]

[9] Allegro 6:39
[10] Larghetto 6:31
[11] Menuetto 6:28
[12] Allegretto con variazioni 8:35