Boris Andrianov

Press Reviews

REVIEWS on CD with Rachmaninov and Shostakovich cello sonatas

Great pairing - matched by beautiful playing. [...]

...These are beautiful performances by two careful and thoughtful artists.

[...]

This is one of those delightful surprises that one can instantly love. It also underscores yet again the fact that fame is no prerequisite for (or guarantee of) top-notch performances. Andrianov and Urasin are as one in these sonatas, playing with immense skill, delicacy of touch and, especially in the Rachmaninov, plenty of heart.

John Warrack

The Classical Music Magazine GRAMOPHONE

September, 2007

The sonatas each receive really splendid performances here – the first movement of the Shostakovich is exceptionally compelling – and the disc can certainly be recommended on those grounds alone. [...]

...I must repeat that these are fine performances of these works, in most excellent style. [...] Admires of both composers should hear this musically impressive disc.

International Record Review

July/August, 2007

NEVER DID THE CELLO SOUND SO BEAUTIFULLY AS IN THE HANDS OF A 19 Y.O. BORIS ANDRIANOV

...It's not every day that we meet so round, full, heartbreaking and meaningful sound even in the performance of the most skillful cellists; only the best ones know how to perform so beautiful tones.

WAZ (Dortmund, Germany)

November 28, 1995

A young cellist’s maturity

They performed the two first parts of Boccerini’s Sonata. We admit Andrianov’s "tenderness", as his professor David Geringas calls it, in the first adagio as well as his virtuosity in allegro. We can also mention his skillful sliding through the compass of the instrument and especially the gentle caution with which he twines the ornaments.

Carlos Tarin

CINE

May 22, 1999

"Repeat the name; Boris Andrianov. He is extraordinarily talented and musical, plays from the heart, and imposes no egoism upon the score".

Pacific Virtuosi

Los Angeles Times

September 11, 1999

The incredible youth of a brilliant cellist

Being yet under 30 Boris Andrianov is a promising performer? A nature musician in the full sense of the word.

Yesterday’s significant concert proved it. His indubitable talent was revealed in his technique and expressiveness as well as in the stylistic mobility.

Manuel Guerrero

Diario de Sevilla

April 25, 2000

The confession to a cellist

I’ve listened to Boris Andrianov in Sala Villasls El Monte on the 5th of May in 1998 for the first time. Since then he’s got a lot of prizes added to his crowned of laurels career, for instance, the first prize in The International Competition in Zagreb two month ago. A student of the great David Geringas, Andrianov undoubtedly is one of the most brilliant start of the young generation of Russian cellists today.

...His having tacked the sonatas of Debussi, Frank and Prokofiev was a challenge of a professional.

...Andrianov still is a passionate, fervent performer using a bright sound when forte and in the most tense passages. His technique is keeping with the best traditions of Russian school. His musical phase is long and profound; his application is flawless. His performance dazzles. The cellist sinless into ]performance and it seems that he is playing not for the audience but to himself. He knows how to make use of the richness of cello’s sound emphasizing the melodiousness of the passage.

...Lately, Andrianov acquired maturity developed his gift for music his personality and his expressive exquisiteness.

Ramon Maria Serrera

MIERCOLES April 26, 2000

Young God

Geniuses are among us. Maybe they live next door and get on our nerves because they practice all day long. But we would probably never get the idea that one of those could be a new Rostropovich. If your neighbor plays cello and if his name is by chance Boris Andrianov then it is certain that soon you will see him only from far - on CD covers or on stages of big concert halls. The young Russian student of the Hanns-Eisler-Hochschule plays like a god: With heartbreaking, beautiful, softly-vibrating Belcanto-tone and masterly noblesse he turns an almost harmless Boccherini concerto into a small wonder of grace and discrete melancholy. In this gallant, dainty Ancien-Regime-Music where emotion always keep the contenance, Andrianov uses all finesses of virtuoso discourse without offending against good taste. Always pointing towards the inside even in virtuoso passages, this art of indication makes grand not only Andrianov's playing but also Boccherini's music. [...]

Joerg Koenigsdorf

BERLINER TAGESSPIEGEL

April 29, 2001

Junger Gott

Klassik

Die Genies sind unter uns. Vielleicht wohnen sie nebenan und fallen uns durch stundenlanges Tonleiternüben schon lange auf die Nerven. Wir kämen aber nie auf die Idee, dass ausgerechnet einer von ihnen der neue Rostropowitsch sein könnte. Spielt Ihr Nachbar Cello und heißt zufällig Boris Andrianov, ist es allerdings sicher, dass Sie ihn bald nur noch von fern, auf CD-Covern oder Konzertpodien sehen werden. Der junge russische Student der Hanns-EisIer-Musikhochschule spielt wie ein Gott: Mit herzergreifend schönem, weich vibrierenden Belcanto-Ton und altmeisterlicher Noblesse macht er aus einem scheinbar harmlosen Boccherini-Konzert ein kleines Wunder an Anmut und diskreter Melancholie. In dieser galanten, zartgliedrigen Ancien-Régime-Musik, in der das Gefühl stets die Contenance bewahrt, schöpft Andrianov alle Feinheiten des virtuosen Diskurses aus, ohne je die Anstandsgrenzen zu verletzen. Eine Kunst der Andeutung, die selbst in den virtuosen Passagen immer auch nach innen weist und damit nicht nur Andrianovs Spiel, sondern auch Boccherinis Musik groß macht. Wohlweis­lich lässt ihn sein Lehrer David Geringas am Schluss der Meisterschüler-Präsentation im Kammermusiksaal auftreten. Als sollte das monomanische (und von Geringas mit dem HfM-Orchester umsichtig begleitete) Programm mit vier Boccherini-Cellokonzerten vor allem die verschiedenen Stadien der Meisterschülerschaft dokumentieren: Vom noch unspezifisch vitalen Timothy Park, über die feinnervige, aber etwas nervöse Tatiana Vassilieva zur klarsichtigen Monika Leskovar, deren souveräne solistische Bewegungsfreiheit an sich schon Grund genug zum Staunen wäre. Wenn einer der vier bei Ihnen im Haus wohnt, sehen Sie ihnen bitte das Üben nach. Und gehen Sie in deren nächstes Konzert.

Jörg Königsdorf

BERLINER TAGESSPIEGEL

29 April 2001

Audience takes music to heart

Irvine Barclay Theatre

Andrianov offered a breath-taking rendition of the Cello Sonata? A taxing and energetic work that was delivered equally with skill and vitality. His strong musicianship remained a constant factor in the performance, a fervor that did not only manifest itself in sound, but showed clearly through his face and body. Andrianov’s playful performance during the second movement provoked a well-deserved round of applause at its conclusion.

Ryan Tracy

Special to the "Register"