Valentin Berlinsky facts for kids

Valentin Berlinsky (born Irkutsk, 19 January, 1925; died 15 December, 2008) was a famous Russian cellist. He was a founding member of the world-renowned Borodin Quartet in 1945. Berlinsky played with this group for many years, until he retired in 2007.

A Musician's Journey: Valentin Berlinsky's Life

Early Musical Beginnings

Valentin Berlinsky was born in Irkutsk, a city in Siberia. His father was also a musician. He had learned to play the violin from a very famous teacher named Leopold Auer. Valentin's father even had his own music group, called the Berlinsky Quartet. They performed in many parts of the Soviet Union.

Valentin first learned to play the violin from his father. Later, he moved to Moscow to continue his music studies. There, he started learning the cello. He also played with the Moscow Youth Orchestra. In 1938, he even performed in a student concert with another future cello legend, Mstislav Rostropovich.

For many years, Berlinsky taught the cello at the Gnessin School of Music in Moscow. He didn't often perform by himself as a soloist. He preferred playing music with a group of musicians. This is called chamber music.

Forming the Borodin Quartet

In 1945, four young musicians decided to form a string quartet. They first called themselves the Moscow Conservatoire Quartet. At first, Mstislav Rostropovich was the cellist. Rostislav Dubinsky and Nina Barshai played the violins, and Rudolf Barshai played the viola.

However, Rostropovich soon became very busy. He suggested that Valentin Berlinsky should take his place as the cellist. The four new members of the quartet made a special promise to each other. They signed an oath (a serious promise) that they would always be loyal and stay together as a group. They even signed this oath with their own blood! Valentin often showed this special paper to people. For 60 years, he carefully wrote down every concert they played.

The group later changed their name to the Borodin Quartet. They chose this name to honor the famous Russian composer Alexander Borodin.

Playing Shostakovich's Music

The Borodin Quartet first met the famous composer Dmitri Shostakovich in 1946. They became very well-known for playing his string quartets. Shostakovich wrote 15 string quartets in total. The Borodin Quartet was the most famous string quartet in the Soviet Union.

For a long time, it was hard for them to get permission to perform in other countries. This changed after the fall of the Soviet Union. Then, they could travel and share their music with audiences around the world.

Later Years and Legacy

Valentin Berlinsky retired from the Borodin Quartet in September 2007. His student, Vladimir Balshin, took his place. Even after retiring, Berlinsky continued to help and guide the quartet.

He passed away on 15 December, 2008, in Moscow. He had been ill for some time. His daughter, Lyudmila, is also a talented musician. She is a pianist.