Well known though Borodin’s Second Quartet is, the First has suffered relative neglect. It had a long gestation period, but it is a strong, inventive work, well worth discovering and with a truly engaging finale. The second quartet has at its centre, the wonderful Nocturne, which has gone on to become a concert piece in its own right. Both works constitute some of the most important chamber music to have come out of Russia in the 19th century. The Fitzwilliam Quartet recorded these pieces in 1979 and 1980 and they have never before been available on CD.
BORODIN
String Quartet No. 1 in A major
String Quartet No. 2 in D major
Fitzwilliam String Quartet
Christopher Rowland, violin I
Jonathan Sparey, violin II
Alan George, viola
Ioan Davies, cello
FIRST INTERNATIONAL RELEASE ON CD
Recording Producer: Peter Wadland
Balance Engineer: John Pellowe
Recording Locations: Maltings, Snape, UK, December 1979 (No. 1), Kingsway Hall, London, UK, July 1980 (No. 2)
‘One of the attractive features of the Fitzwilliam Quartet’s style is the individuality of character they preserve without loss of a unified approach … both slow movements are played with great lyrical warmth … The Fitzwilliams’ nervous energy can sometimes be brilliantly applied to the music, and be properly exciting’ Gramophone
‘masterly … richly-textured recording’ Penguin Guide ***