All of these Russian pieces for string quartet can use the kind of propulsive kicking-along that was the Hollywood String Quartet's specialty. Not even this level of playing can save the Glazunov, a sorry mishmash of various national styles in utterly unconvincing style pastiches. But the lovely Tchaikovsky and Borodin works, in such utterly unsentimental performances, really bloom. Ignore the minor deficiencies of the restored mono sound for music-making of this quality--and be thankful for the CD's capacity to program out Glazunov. (Leslie Gerber)