The quartet was formed as the
Moscow Conservatoire Quartet with
Mstislav Rostropovich on cello, Rostislav Dubinsky and on first and second violins, and Yuri Nikolaevsky on viola, all studying with professor , the viola player of the
Komitas Quartet (chamber ensemble class). Rostropovich withdrew after a few weeks in favour of
Valentin Berlinsky. Vladimir Rabei and Yuri Nikolaevsky were soon succeeded by Nina Barshai and
Rudolf Barshai. The quartet first met Shostakovich in 1946 and became an interpreter of his compositions. In due course they became known for their performances of all of Shostakovich's quartets (eventually numbering 15) at concert halls around the world. Dubinsky formed the
Borodin Trio in 1976. ==References==