While the composer himself was reluctant to break faith with the technically less proficient Beethoven Quartet, concert-goers and record buyers of a certain age have found it difficult to ‘move on’ from the Shostakovich performances given by the variously configured Borodin Quartet. The longest-serving member of that matchless ensemble, clocking up more than six decades of continuous service, was the cellist Valentin Berlinsky. At first sight it might seem a little odd that his pianist daughter has given her blessing to the appropriation of his name by a Swiss-based group founded in 2010. As section leaders with Zurich’s major musical institutions, its members – Polish, Chinese, British and Russian – have served under conductors with quite different notions of authenticity. Here, though, one registers a conscious effort to reassert the importance of warmth, blend and polish. The spacious recording is entirely in keeping with these old-school priorities. Focus and refinement may slip a little in the face of the implosive ferocity of the Seventh’s finale but there is little to criticise and much to admire.

The inviting, singing tone of the Beethoven is yet more striking, an unexpected coupling set to usher in a whole series pairing these two composers on the Avie label. There are representative concert videos of these musicians playing separately and together online so you really can try before you buy. The sonic quality available there is of course no match for the sweet sounds of a disc that comes with concise booklet-notes from David Fanning. Recommended.