Shostakovich Emphasis In Borodin Tour

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31540, 30 November 1967, Page 11

Shostakovich Emphasis In Borodin Tour

The Soviet Union’s leading string quartet, the Borodin Quartet, will make its second tour of New Zealand next year for the Chamber Music Federation.

The quartet will give special attention to the music of the leading Soviet composer, Shostakovich, playing at least one of his works in each programme. The quartet will play the famous Shostakovich quintet with a New Zealand pianist, six of the quartets and the trio. The quartet previously visited New Zealand in 1964 and was then the first Soviet | group to tour for the federa- : tion. Formed in 1948 as the Quartet of the Moscow Philhannonia. it became the Borodin Quartet in 1955 when it began a distinguished international touring career. Three of its present members are from the original four. The chamber federation will also tour a French string quartet next year, the Par-

renin Quartet, and is awaiting confirmation of a tour by a German quintet, the Bern thien Quartet and Jost Michaels (clarinet). A Jugoslavian group, the Zagreb Soloists, will be the federation's first visitors for the year, touring in April. A couple from Germany, Denes Zsigmondy (violin) and Anniliese Nissen (piano), will make their second New Zealand tour in July and August

They toured New Zealand in 1966. The federation also plans to tour two New Zealand groups of chamber players. Dobbs Franks (piano) and Ruth Pearl (violin) will tour in June with a soprano and cellist. Later in the year a New Zealand group of four violins, two violas, two cellos, bass, piano and clarinet may also tour.