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Elias String Quartet

15th October 2008

Upper Chapel

Start Time: 7:45pm

End Time: 9:45pm

The Elias Quartet performs a programme featuring Kurtag's "Intense Quartet Op.1" alongside Mendelssohn's celebrated " Quartet in D Op.44 No.1", Purcell's "Two Fantasias" and Schubert's "Quartet in C minor D.703 Quartettsatz".

This Autumn the Elias will be giving a series of Kurtág quartets and Mendelssohn’s Op.44 quartets, as well as continuing its ongoing series of the Henry Purcell’s Fantasias, some of the greatest early string repertoire.

Kurtág created in his first string quartet, a fusion of music reminiscent of Webern (an allusion to whom appears in the opening of the work) and Bartók, whose bold use of string techniques are recalled here.

Schubert’s intense Quartettsatz is a work of great importance that paved the way for his later quartets and is full of drama and variety.

Mendelssohn’s Quartet was written during the composer’s first year of marriage. This happy time in his life is reflected in the joyful nature of the piece, which features brilliant virtuosity in the first violin part.