The Borodin Trio, Rivka Golani - Johannes Brahms: The Three Piano Quartets (1989)

Posted By: ArlegZ

Date: July 10, 2025

I think that purists will object to the very Slavonic approach to Brahms in these readings. I do not fall into this category and found them immensely enjoyable. The Borodin Trio and Rivka Golani convince one that they are authoritative players even if their bias is rather too much towards succulent sonorities and an overtly emotional use of tone. They do not fall into the trap of over-projecting the music and without denying their own temperaments are still able to offer a definite style of interpretation.
Rubinstein (on RCA) has far more classical restraint than Luba Edlina in the First and Third Piano Quartets. He is more sophisticated in retreating from the limelight when it is one of the other player's turn to take centre-stage. Edlina gets into her instrument with more force. However, in the slow movement of the G minor I especially admired the way the Borodins were able to give topicality to the music by stressing the martial-like mood of the section heralded in by a strangely aggressive dotted rhythm episode. In the finale, too, the Russians play up the gipsy element for all it is worth. This is terrific fun and just manages to avoid vulgarity. Perahia and the Amadeus members (on CBS) sound very proper and restricted in contrast. Rubinstein is lighter.
In the A major Quartet the Borodins lend the first movement, with its hints of folk-dance origins, an idyllic generosity very reminiscent of Dvorak. Domus, for Virgin Classics, are more dreamy and theirs is a rather sprawling interpretation. They are less characterful. The piano's arpeggio interventions in the flow of the Poco adagio slow movement serve a very different function with the two pianists. Susan Tomes of Domus emphasizes their mystery, whereas Luba Edlina gives them an imperiousness that reminds one of the ever-present force represented by the piano part. The playing here is highly-charged with expressiveness. In the Scherzo that follows Edlina's power in the stormy episodes of the trio reminded me of the most turbulent passages from the two piano concertos by Brahms.
Given the character of the Borodin's approach I was surprised how little I was drawn to listening to any one part in the ensemble. One senses a real like-mindedness. In the C minor Quartet there is the memorable duo between cello and piano at the opening of the slow movement and here the Guarneri's cellist, David Soyer, plays with really elegant feeling. The style is perhaps Mendelssohnian. The Borodins are brimming over with sentiment in this episode and it is Tchaikovsky whose style comes to the fore. The textures are extraordinarily luxuriant and sympathetic. The finale may be rough-edged in places, but the naturalness of balance between the instrumentalists and their exceptional fluency allows one to forget any reservations.
The recorded sound on this new release is much fuller than with any of the others. Each member of the ensemble has presence, and the piano never takes over the proceedings, despite its tonal largesse. Perahia is a more energetic player than Edlina and his interpretation of the piano part has greater detail and refinement; but I do not think that this CD offers very good money—the First Quartet is the only work, lasting just over 40 minutes. On the RCA disc, recorded in the 1960s the string sound is restricted in colour, although Rubinstein's part comes through well. The Domus version of the Second makes for very relaxed listening, partly since the acoustic is rather reverberant, with the piano sounding some distance back.
–James Methuen-Campbell

Performer:
The Borodin Trio:
Luba Edlina, piano
Rostislav Dubinsky, violin
Yuli Turovsky, cello
with
Rivka Golani, viola

Tracklist:
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
CD1:
Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Intermezzo, Allegro, ma non troppo
03. III. Andante con moto
04. IV. Rondo alla Zingarese: Presto
Piano Quartet No. 3 in C minor, Op. 60
05. I. Allegro non troppo
06. II. Scherzo: Allegro
07. III. Andante
CD2:
01. IV. Finale
Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 26
02. I. Allegro non troppo
03. II. Poco Adagio
04. III. Scherzo: Poco Allegro & Trio
05. IV. Finale: Allegro

EAC LOG1

Exact Audio Copy V1.8 from 15. July 2024

EAC extraction logfile from 4. July 2025, 10:38

Various Artists / Brahms: The Three Piano Quartets

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EAC LOG2

Exact Audio Copy V1.8 from 15. July 2024

EAC extraction logfile from 4. July 2025, 15:26

Various Artists / Brahms: The Three Piano Quartets (Disc 2)

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Exact Audio Copy V1.8 from 15. July 2024

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Various Artists / Brahms: The Three Piano Quartets (Disc 2)

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Filename D:\Rips\Brahms - Piano Quartets - The BorodinTrio, Rivka Golani\CD2\Various Artists - Brahms- The Three Piano Quartets (Disc 2).wav

Peak level 93.3 %
Extraction speed 1.8 X
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Test CRC D4419EDE
Copy CRC 43DDE342
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Thanks to the original releaser

CD 01
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