Comprehensive booklet notes.

Recording made in 1995.

All Russian players who are steeped in experience of this repertoire.

Very few collections of the Borodin chamber works are available.

Alexander Borodin (1833–87) was one of those composers who did something else for a living. He was a highly respected research chemist who published over 40 scientific works and composed in his spare time. Borodin met Balakirev in 1862, and became part of the collective of Russian composers called ‘The Mighty Handful’ – with Balakirev, Cui, Mussorgsky and Rimsky Korsakov. Out of the five, Borodin was the most disposed to chamber music, and had composed quite a significant body of work before his meeting with Balakirev. These works are of an astonishing quality, and it is remarkable to consider that he was almost self taught. He studied the works of Spohr, Onslow, and Boccherini as a youngster, and as a keen cellist, the chamber works of these composers no doubt provided the inspiration for his String Quintet – probably the first by a Russian composer.

The undoubted masterpiece though is his Second String Quartet, one of the most famous and best loved works in the genre. The famous thirdmovement Notturno was used for the song ‘And this is my Beloved’ from the 1953 Broadway musical Kismet, based entirely on Borodin’s music. For those who know only his Second Symphony, and the dances from his opera Prince Igor, this set provides a fascinating opportunity to explore another aspect of this fabulously gifted composer, containing many lesser known works that deserve to be better known.