Russian legacy conveyed

HEADLINE ACT: The Borodin Quartet opens Chamber Music New Zealand's Diamon Anniversary Season in Nelson.

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One of the most revered chamber ensembles in modern history heads to Nelson this weekend to open Chamber Music New Zealand's Diamond Anniversary Season.

Russia's Borodin Quartet headlines the season and will perform in 10 centres throughout the country in March, with a performance at Nelson School of Music this Sunday.

Chamber Music New Zealand chief executive Euan Murdoch says the Borodin Quartet, founded in 1945 by four students from the Moscow Conservatory, commands a special respect in the chamber music world for its commitment to the collaborative spirit of chamber music and its focus on the masterpieces at the heart of the quartet repertoire.

The members of the quartet had a close personal relationship with composer Dmitri Shostakovich, who personally supervised their study of each of his quartets.

Violinist Andrei Abramenkov has been a member of the Borodin Quartet for 36 years, while violist Igor Naidin and violinist Ruben Aharonian joined in 1996. Vladimir Balshin (cello) is the most recent member, replacing long-time cellist Valentin Berlinsky in 2007.

Mr Murdoch says it has been 17 years since the Borodin Quartet last performed in New Zealand and this tour is very special.

"Their legacy is second to none in the modern era of quartets. Hearing the Borodins live in concert connects us to the source of Russia's musical legacy with all its attendant complexities and triumphs. What better way is there to celebrate our 60th anniversary than to open the season with the unrivalled authority of this wonderful quartet."

In Nelson, the Borodin Quartet will perform Shostakovich's gruelling eighth quartet, alongside Alexander Borodin's melodic String Quartet No 2 in D featuring the famous nocturne, and Tchaikovsky's first string quartet, which reportedly caused the writer Tolstoy to dissolve in tears.

• The Borodin Quartet performs at Nelson School of Music on Sunday, March 7 at 3pm. Tickets are available from the Nelson School of Music by calling 5489477 or emailing nsom@nsom.ac.nz.

TICKET GIVEAWAY The Nelson Mail has two double passes to the Borodin Quartet concert to give away. To be in the draw, send your name, address and daytime phone number to arts@nelsonmail.co.nz, with Borodin in the subject line. Entries to arrive before 8am Friday. Winners will be contacted by phone.

- © Fairfax NZ News