Borodin Quartet 60th Anniversary

Album review

Sure, they're getting old. This is the 60th anniversary of the founding of Russia's venerable Borodin Quartet in 1944, and cellist Valentin Berlinsky has been there since the beginning, while violinist Andrei Abramenkov joined in the mid-'70s and violinist Roubén Aharonian and violist Igor Naidin joined in the mid-'90s. But how do they sound on this 60th Anniversary disc, do they sound old? Old as in tired and weary? No. Old as in spry and wise? Yes. While most of the works on this well-chosen program are lyrical and mellow, the Borodin Quartet's performance of Schubert's demonic Quartettsatz is suitably diabolical and its performance of the outer sections of the elfin Scherzo from Borodin's Second Quartet is fittingly airborne. But of course, with the "Baubles, Bangles and Beads Trio" from the same Scherzo, the Borodin Quartet soars like Cupid chasing Psyche. In the sensuous Nocturne that follows, the Borodin Quartet embraces the music like the shadows of night enclose the bower of bliss. In Tchaikovsky's sentimental Andante cantabile, the Borodin Quartet sings like star-struck swains. And in Webern's passionate Langsamer Satz, the Borodin Quartet explores the mysteries of life and love through the wisdom of maturity. Onyx's sound is warm, close, and almost real.

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