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21st October 2018 – Marmen Quartet – Programme notes by Chris Darwin

All three of today’s works have a special relationship with semitones. For example, the Haydn opens with one that metamorphoses into its main theme; the Janáček opens with a harsh F#-G clash which sets the tone of this emotionally-charged piece; the Beethoven, famously, is built around the opening two embedded pairs of semitones. You can probably spot more examples.

Josef Haydn (1732-1809) String Quartet Op. 74 No.1 in C (1793)
Allegro
Andantino grazioso
Menuet & Trio
Finale: Vivace

Haydn’s six ‘Apponyi’ quartets (Op 71 and 74) were written in 1792 & 1793 between his two extended visits to London. Prince Nicholas Esterházy, Haydn’s patron to whom he was devoted, had Continue reading 21st October 2018 – Marmen Quartet – Programme notes by Chris Darwin

Coffee Concert 29th April 2018 – Review by Richard Amey, Worthing Herald

Watching four different bodies combine on stage is one of the fascinations of seeing small-scale ensembles perform in chamber music concerts. We can’t know freely their actual personalities but we can search for clues in how they perform. Our eyes are drawn in all directions.

Here was another example in the frequent flow of Coffee Concert debut-making groups already operating at high level. This time, Quatuor Arod from Paris – intriguingly Continue reading Coffee Concert 29th April 2018 – Review by Richard Amey, Worthing Herald

Coffee Concert 29th April 2018 Quatuor Arod – Review by Andrew Polmear

When you set out to go to a concert featuring well-known quartets by Haydn and Beethoven, you might be forgiven for thinking that you know what to expect. With Quatuor Arod you would be wrong. They take well-known pieces and play them as though Continue reading Coffee Concert 29th April 2018 Quatuor Arod – Review by Andrew Polmear