A beautifully contrasting programme of Beethoven’s “Serioso”, dramatic Shostakovich and our newly commissioned quartet from featured artist Daniel Kidane.

Beethoven’s Op.95 quartet is the only one to which he gave a subtitle. “Serioso” is rooted in his deep despair: a failed love affair, increasing deafness, financial insecurity, and emotional distress. When better to turn to music? It is cramped, raging, tense – and compelling as a result – and then, at the end, it bursts into the major key, the transcendence of darkness bringing relief and restoration.

Shostakovich’s Twelfth quartet is concerned with a wrangling between the atonality of serialism (its tone row containing 12 notes) and the homeliness of D flat major. It demands physical extremes of its performers: rapid brilliance and sustained long bowings, intensity and lifelessness by turns. It takes us on a compelling journey of opposites and resolution. The programme is completed by Daniel Kidane’s new quartet, written for this occasion and these supreme performers.

Carducci Quartet:
Matthew Denton violin
Michelle Fleming violin
Eoin Schmidt-Martin viola
Emma Denton cello