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The Beethoven Quartet (Russian: Струнный квартет имени Бетховена, Strunnyĭ kvartet imeni Betkhovena) was a string quartet founded between 1922 and 1923 by graduates of the Moscow Conservatory: violinists Dmitri Tsyganov and Vasily Shirinsky, violist Vadim Borisovsky and cellist Sergei Shirinsky (half brother of Vasily).[1] In 1931, they changed their name from the Moscow Conservatory Quartet to the Beethoven Quartet.[2]
From 1938, it collaborated closely with the composer Dmitri Shostakovich and premiered thirteen of his fifteen string quartets, Nos. 2 through 14.[3] He dedicated his third and fifth quartets to the Beethoven Quartet, while later quartets were dedicated individually to the members: Quartet No. 11 to the memory of Vasily Shirinsky, Quartet No. 12 to Tsyganov, Quartet No. 13 to Borisovsky, and Quartet No. 14 to Sergei Shirinsky.[3][4]
Fyodor Druzhinin took over from Borisovsky in 1964, giving a runthrough of the ninth quartet with the rest of the group.[2] Sergei Shirinsky died during rehearsals of Shostakovich's fifteenth quartet.[5] In 1977, final founding member and first violinist Dmitri Tsyganov departed and was replaced by Oleh Krysa. The group disbanded in 1987.[6][7]
Dates indicate the years of activity.
- Violin I
- Dmitri Tsyganov (1923–1977)
- Oleh Krysa (1977–1990)
- Violin II
- Vasily Shirinsky (1923–1965)
- Nikolai Zabavnikov (1965–1990)
- Viola
- Vadim Borisovsky (1923–1964)
- Fyodor Druzhinin (1964–1988)
- Mikhail Kugel (1988–1990)
- Cello
- Sergei Shirinsky (1923–1974), alternative spelling: Sergey
- Yevgeny Altman, alternative spellings: Evgeny Altman or Al'tman
- Valentin Feigin
- Urmas Tammik (1988–1990)
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