This redoubtable Russian group plays with all the powerful, focused tone youd expect and brings out the entire wealth of Beethovens colour in these fiery performances.
"Classic FM Magazine on CHAN 10191, Volume 2"
This is volume 5 in what is proving to be a distinguished if occasionally unorthodox cycle of these 16 glorious scores,the second such cycle this group will have recorded when the current traversal is completed. This release boasts many virtues, like its predecessors in this series. For one thingm the sound is exceptionally fine: close in perspective but never excessively so, free of harshness and of muscians’ intrusive breathing, it offers a welcome illusion of reality.
International Record Review
These works of Beethoven’s final years attain such a rarefied atmosphere of harmonic daring and structural density that most composers that followed him were at a loss to know what to make of them. It is their modernity and symphonic structure that the Borodin Quartet so memorably captures here. Other ensembles may be more intensely claustrophobic, but the Borodin’s boldness never fails to command the attention.
Classic FM Magazine
This fifth volume in the Borodin’s Beethoven series is one of the best. It shows all the virtues of the previous instalments – beautiful, clear, expressive tone, confident technique and a natural, flexible sensitive presentation of the musical argument.
Gramophone
These Borodin accounts are distinguished by their feeling of spontaneity; the continual small rubati and emphases may be worked out in advance but sound like spur-of-the-moment inflections as each player lives the music. Another striking overall impression is of tonal beauty, with a near perfect blend of sounds.
"Gramophone on CHAN 10178, Volume 1"
The playing is certainly very fine, theres a rare unanimity of tone and style, and the group excels in the lyrical music. The cantabile episodes in Op. 95 are freely expressive but never indulgent, an effect enhanced by the warmth and clarity of the recording.
"Gramophone on CHAN 10268, Volume 3"