Chiaroscuro Quartet / Mon 12 Oct

Chiaroscuro Quartet:
Alina Ibragimova, Charlotte Saluste-Bridoux violins
Emilie Hörnlund viola
Claire Thirion cello

‘A shock to the ears of the best kind’ – The Observer.

Chiaroscuro Quartet is renowned for Classical and early Romantic interpretations, bringing the group’s signature style to Manchester for the very first time.

Brought to life on gut strings and with historical bows, the programme opens with Haydn’s pivotal Opus 20 string quartets. While the bright and optimistic third quartet may be seen as more conventional, the enigmatic sixth quartet blossoms and pushes the boundaries of structural norms.

A pupil of Haydn, Beethoven was clearly influenced by his teacher but broke the mould. After writing his large-scale works, he returned in his later life to the more intimate setting of the string quartet. Written after recovering from serious illness, his String Quartet in A minor is a ‘holy song of thanksgiving’, reflected in the emotionally charged and profoundly beautiful writing.