Ruysdael Quartet

We are sorry to announce we are no longer able to present the Jorg Widmann world premiere and the quartet have kindly replaced this work with the following programme:

Purcell Fantasias for the Viols:

Fantasia V in B-flat major, Z 736

Fantasia VII in c minor , Z 738

Fantasia IX in a, minor, Z 740

Andriessen Miserere

Beethoven String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op.18 No. 4 

The Netherlands based Ruysdael Quartet is noted for the passion of its playing and the refined eloquence of its sound — qualities that will be showcased as the ensemble performs a programme that looks back to Purcell and then Beethoven’s unrivalled mastery of the string quartet and brings the form into the 21st century with Louis Andriessen’s Miserere.

Inspired by Allegri’s Miserere the source for this connection is the German book Melodien by Helmut Krausser. In this book, set in Italy around 1400, the alchemist Castiglio starts a quest for the '26 magic melodies'. These secret melodies have strange powers, for example the power to enamour and to heal.  The second half of the concert is one of Beethoven’s early quartets, a miniature musical drama that ranges from intense urgency to poignancy and poise. This is an unmissable evening of music that simultaneously honours and develops the repertoire in exciting, unexpected ways.