Borodin Quartet facts for kids

The Borodin Quartet is a famous string quartet that started in 1945 in what was then the Soviet Union. A string quartet is a group of four musicians who play string instruments: two violins, a viola, and a cello. The Borodin Quartet is known as one of the world's longest-lasting string quartets. In 2005, they celebrated their 60th anniversary! The cellist Valentin Berlinsky was a key member, playing with the group for many years until he retired in 2007.

How the Quartet Began

When the group first started in 1945, they were called the Moscow Philharmonic Quartet. In 1955, they changed their name to the Borodin Quartet. They chose this name to honor the famous composer Alexander Borodin. He wrote two well-known string quartets.

The first cellist for the group was Mstislav Rostropovich. Soon after, he became too busy with other concerts. So, Valentin Berlinsky joined as the new cellist. The four musicians who formed the quartet at that time made a special promise to stay together as a group. They played together for 20 years.

Playing Under Soviet Rule

For many years, the Borodin Quartet lived in the Soviet Union. The government at the time controlled many things, including when and where artists could perform. Even though they were invited to play in other countries, the government often did not allow them to travel.

The quartet had to accept the concerts their government approved. They even played at the funerals of the country's leader, Joseph Stalin, and the composer Sergei Prokofiev. Both men died on the same day, March 5, 1953.

Working with Famous Composers

The Borodin Quartet had a very close relationship with the famous composer Dmitri Shostakovich. They often played his string quartets. Shostakovich would listen to them practice and talk with them about how he wanted his music to sound.

The quartet also frequently performed piano quintets. A piano quintet is a piece of music for a string quartet and a piano. They often played with the well-known pianist Sviatoslav Richter.

Changes and Continued Success

After 20 years, some members of the quartet changed. The first violinist, Rostislav Dubinsky, moved to another country. The second violinist, Jaroslav Alexandrov, retired because of his health.

With two new players, the quartet spent two years practicing together. They wanted to make sure they sounded perfect before performing in public again. When the Soviet Union later broke up, the Borodin Quartet remained very famous. They began to travel abroad much more, performing in many places like London.

Recordings

The Borodin Quartet has made many important recordings. These include all of Dmitri Shostakovich's string quartets. They have also recorded all of the quartets by Ludwig van Beethoven.

See also

In Spanish: Cuarteto Borodín para niños