A recording of Shostakovich’s famous piano quintet and less famous second trio, performed by the Borodin Trio. I think I love the Borodin Trio more because of the superb recordings Chandos released in the early 80s than their actual playing style. The Borodin Trio is good, sure, but there are others that are maybe better, certainly in more recent recordings.
Having said that, this is the work of the incredible Ralph Couzens. Ralph is the son of Brain Couzens, the founder of family label Chandos. Ralph was also sound engineer for my favourite Borodin Trio recording, Rachmaninov’s Elegiac Trios. Chandos released well recorded and carefully mastered recordings in the eighties, but also in more recent times. Most of it was released on CD, but lately they are turning towards downloading in hi-res, or buying it on vinyl. They’ve always been committed to releasing the more niche works, and doing it well.
The label is named after James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos (1674–1744). Brydges became known as the Apollo of the arts for being patron to many artists. At his house in what is now Canons Park (Greater London) composer Händel resided for a while. Though he was fabulously rich when he retired, when James died in 1744, there was so much debt that his heirs had to sell the house in parts. Nothing of it is now left of the once very richly decorated house.