Classical music still stirs the heart strings of Borodin Quartet violinist Igor Naidin.
Although he has played with the quartet since 1996 and performed classical masterpieces by Beethoven, Schubert, Prokofiev, Borodin and Tchaikovsky hundreds of times, it is only the rare occasion that he has to force himself to find beauty in the works.
‘When there are many of them, you can explore and study the whole of their life, the whole musician’s life,’ Naidin said.
‘So of course the string quartet, as a living organism, is changing in a way. It’s impossible to repeat the same piece in a completely similar way.’
It is for the same purposes that Naidin believes audiences keep flocking back to listen.
The Quartet itself is 65 years old and was formed by Alexander Borodin, an eminent Russian composer.
Over its lifespan, the quartet has worked with other eminent Russian composers such as Dmitri Shostakovich.
When Borodin Quartet performs in Perth on February 22, it will provide a program that pairs two quartets of Shostakvich – one from the earlier part of his life and one from his later works – with a quartet by Borodin himself.
Naidin said there continued to be a strong movement in classically styled music.
‘Our language is changing and so musical language is also changing,’ he said.
‘Lots of the modern kind of contemporary music is becoming extremely complicated and sophisticated and they’re sophisticated in terms of the rhythm and a metre and soundmaking.
‘There are much more sound aspects which are brought by modern composers, contemporary composers. It’s not like standard sound-making approach.
‘Contemporary works is a completely different musical language. We play time to time but mainly and frankly our hearts are mostly in classical music.’
He said the Quartet looked forward to playing at the Perth Concert Hall in a specially hosted performance by Musica Viva in association with Perth International Arts Festival.
‘We absolutely were delighted with Perth,’ Naidin said.
‘It’s a very special place. The audience is very mature and very well educated. It was astonishing.’
Musica Viva’s Artistic Director Carl Vine said: ‘The Borodin Quartet is the finest quartet to come out of Russia and, in Australia in 2010, audiences will have a chance to hear them play the very finest Russian quartet repertoire.’
Tickets are available through BOCS on (08) 9484 1133 or www.bocsticketing.com.au
Aja Styles
