Boris Kamensky

Born in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, son of a director of a commercial bank, Kamensky made his first appearance in concerts at the age of nine.

[2] Kamensky was appointed as Concertmaster in the orchestra of the St Petersburg Imperial Russian Musical Society[2] and he became first violin of Tzar Nicholas II.

[4] He was one of the founding members of the St Petersburg String Quartet,[3] which was maintained by Helena Pavlovna's grandson, Duke George Mecklenburg-Strelitz,[1][3] whilst appearing as soloist at the concerts of the Russian Musical Society in various cities in Russia.

The Duke was encouraged to let the Quartet give public concerts and as a result, it made its début in 1897 in St Petersburg.

It is impossible to explain in words the perfection of their masterful playing, one must hear them to understand the power and brilliance of their interpretation of the pure quartette music.

It seems like one instrument in the hands of a maestro, in whose power it is to easily transmit the musical beauties, enrapturing the audience with the purity of tone, either dying away to the hardly audible pianissimo, or growing to the greatest forte.

The execution of the artists merits the highest praise, acquainting the Russian public with the works of the great composers.

In forte, the orchestra surprises you with its strength and power and in piano it charms your ear with tenderness of tone and the finest achievement.