The legendary Borodin Quartet, celebrating their 80th anniversary in 2025, brings their internationally acclaimed mastery to Shanghai with a three-night mini festival featuring Shostakovich’s string quartets alongside classics from Beethoven, Mozart, and more. Known as “Russian grand masters,” their tight-knit ensemble delivers flawless technique and deep musical insight — a rare chance to experience one of the world’s most respected chamber groups live.

Program:

Borodin Quartet Concert I

Date: Thursday, January 1, 2026, 19:30

• String Quartet No. 1 in C major, Op. 49
• String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110

—— INTERMISSION ——

• String Quartet No. 3 in F major, Op. 73

Program subject to change.

Borodin Quartet Concert II

Date: Friday, January 2, 2026, 19:30

• String Quartet No. 4 in D major, Op. 83
• String Quartet No. 7 in F-sharp minor, Op. 108

—— INTERMISSION ——

• String Quartet No. 12 in D-flat major, Op. 133

Program subject to change.

Borodin Quartet Concert III

Date: Sunday, January 4, 2026, 19:30

• String Quartet No. 5 in B-flat major, Op. 92
• String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat minor, Op. 138

—— INTERMISSION ——

• String Quartet No. 15 in E-flat minor, Op. 144

Program subject to change.

Meet the Borodin Quartet:

Violin I: Nikolai Sachenko

Violin II: Sergei Lomovsky

Viola: Igor Naidin

Cello: Vladimir Balshin

2025 marks the Borodin Quartet’s 80th anniversary. Over seven decades, they’ve built a reputation for deep insight and top authority in chamber music. Famous for their Beethoven and Shostakovich performances, they also cover Mozart to Stravinsky with ease.

Called the “Russian grand masters” by Australia’s Daily Telegraph, the Quartet is closely linked to Russian composers like Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Glinka, Prokofiev, and Schnittke. Their performances of Russian quartets are widely praised — the Frankfurt newspaper even called them “a single sixteen-stringed instrument of great virtuosity,” not just four musicians.

Their connection with Shostakovich is especially close — the composer personally guided them on each of his quartets. The Borodin Quartet’s recordings and performances of Shostakovich’s full cycle are seen as the definitive interpretation worldwide. They’ve played these works in major cities including Vienna, London, Paris, New York, and many more.

Founded in 1945 by four Moscow Conservatory students, the Borodin Quartet is one of the few chamber groups with uninterrupted history since its formation. While the world has changed radically, their commitment to beautiful tone, technical skill, and deep musicianship remains. Current members are Sachenko, Lomovsky, Naidin, and Balshin.

Besides quartet works, they regularly collaborate with top musicians like Sviatoslav Richter, Yuri Bashmet, Michael Collins, Alexei Volodin, and others. They also teach masterclasses and serve on major competition juries worldwide.

Recent gigs include venues like BOZAR Brussels, Berlin Konzerthaus, Liszt Academy Budapest, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, and Philharmonie de Paris. In 2025, they’ll do a big China tour for their 80th, followed by concerts across Europe and a USA tour in fall.

Their recordings have earned Grammy nods and include complete Beethoven quartets and Shostakovich cycles on labels like Onyx, EMI, RCA, Teldec, Chandos, and Decca.

Shanghai Concert Hall