Borodin Quartet impresses in Beethoven and Borodin at The Sage, but lacks bite in Shostakovich

In a typically ambitious programme, Vladimir Jurowski and the London Philharmonic Orchestra explored how four Czech composers responded to imprisonment, exile and renewal.

After somewhat tame Tchaikovsky, the combined forces of Barry Douglas and the Borodin String Quartet deliver a compelling Brahms Piano Quintet. 

How does an admirer of Shostakovich's symphonic works react to a performance of two of his string quartets? Well, if it's the Borodin Quartet that is playing, the experience will most definitely be a changing experience. 

Fondé en 1945, le Quatuor Borodine est l’un des plus vieux quatuors à cordes au monde. Certes, ses membres d’origine, parmi lesquels Mstislav Rostropovitch au violoncelle et Rudolf Barchaï à l’alto, ont depuis été remplacés par des collègues plus jeunes.

The eminent Borodin Quartet brought a programme of Shostakovich and Beethoven with them to the Wigmore Hall – two composers they are very closely associated with. 

The Borodin Quartet seemed safely in their comfort zone with a selection of staple works from Shosatkovich and Beethoven.