Sacconi Quartet performs Haydn, Alberga Live Music & Concerts

The fresh and compelling ensemble, known for their infectious energy and enthusiasm, perform a mixed programme of colourful quartets.

Part of the St James's Piccadilly Classical Programme

"The Sacconi, a fast rising British string quartet ..bring something fresh and distinctive." THE TIMES

For twenty years, the Sacconi Quartet have been captivating audiences with their unanimous and compelling ensemble, consistently communicating with a fresh and imaginative approachThe quartet are known throughout the world for their creativity and integrity of interpretationFormed in 2001, the four founder members continue to demonstrate a shared passion for string quartet repertoire, infectiously reaching out to audiences with their energy and enthusiasm

The Sacconi enjoy a busy international career, performing regularly across the world, at Europe's major venues, in recordings and on radio broadcastsTheir album of music by Jonathan Dove hit the Classical Top Ten, and was chosen as one of Gramophone Magazine's Recordings of the YearIn November the Sacconi celebrated twenty years of playing together, with a celebration birthday concert at Wigmore Hall

The name Sacconi Quartet comes from the outstanding twentieth-century Italian luthier and restorer Simone Sacconi, whose book The Secrets of Stradivari is considered an indispensable reference for violin makersBen Hancox plays a 1932 Sacconi violin and Robin Ashwell a 1934 Sacconi viola, both made in New YorkHannah Dawson plays a 1927 Sacconi violin made in Rome, and Cara Berridge plays a Nicolaus Gagliano cello from 1781

With Ben Hancox violin, Hannah Dawson violin, Robin Ashwell viola, Cara Berridge cello

Programme

Haydn String Quartet in B minor, Op 64 No 2

Eleanor Alberga String Quartet No2

Beethoven String Quartet No16 in F major, Op135

Programme notes

Haydn String Quartet in B minor, Op 64 No 2:

The key of B minor was rarely used by HaydnIt brings out a agitated, searching strain in his musical personalityThe piece includes both amusing and disconcerting effects, resulting in a movement of abrupt contrastsDuring the four movements of Op 64 No 2, B major gradually wins out over B minor, bringing a magical display of mood, texture and colour

Eleanor Alberga String Quartet No2:

Jamaican-born British composer Eleanor Alberga is a contemporary composer of international importanceIn 2015 her opener for the Last Night of the Proms, ARISE ATHENA!, was viewed by millionsHer String Quartet No2 is a single-movement work that mixes contemporary European techniques with Western Caribbean cultureIts single movement span presents traditional forms embedded in a truly forward-thinking piece, bringing out Alberga's great skills as an artist and composerMany of her works draw on her Jamaican heritage and her time as a singer with the Jamaican Folk SingersThe emotional range of her language, her structural clarity and her skill as an orchestrator have won her critical acclaim

Beethoven String Quartet No16 in F major, Op135:

Written in October 1826, this was the last major work Beethoven completedOnly the final movement of the Quartet Op130, written as a replacement for the Große Fuge, was composed later and premiered one year after his death

As he began writing the Op135 quartet, Beethoven knew it would be his last: he was very conscious of the moment in his lifeThe work is on a smaller scale than the other late quartets; many find it to be more classical, complacent and even accommodatingSome find it to be a relaxation, a cooling down for Beethoven following his monumental achievements

Under the introductory slow chords in the last movement Beethoven wrote in the manuscript "Muß es sein?" (Must it be?) to which he responds, with the faster main theme of the movement, "Es muß sein!" (It must be!)The whole movement is headed "Der schwer gefaßte Entschluß" (The Difficult Decision)

Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/1467134-0?pid=269

Artist: Sacconi Quartet

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