This Spring, Penarth Pier Pavilion is working in collaboration with RWCMD on a new RWCMD-in-Residence programme. The Residency will involve music workshops and performances for all ages and audiences!
Quartet Draig will be performing ‘Romantic Works for String Quartet’ for their inaugural concert at Penarth Pavilion on Fri, 10 February 23, 19:30 – 20:30. You can book here
The Quartet is formed of current and past scholarship students from Royal Welsh College of Music Drama, Royal Northern College of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
As a quartet they have performed at the Wigmore Hall in the CAVATINA Competition, and in 2021 were Junior Quartet in Residence at the ESTA Conference. During their time at RWCMD they were recipients of the Albion String Quartet and the Bridgewood & Neitzert prizes, and they will also be returning to the Wigmore Hall in February 2023 to compete in the Musicians’ Company competition.
Quartet Draig have been described as “An ensemble with energy, a wholly appropriate volatility within its interpretation, and buoyancy of tutti sound” by acclaimed music critic, Richard Bratby. On an individual basis, between the quartet they also play with orchestras including BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Welsh National Opera, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Sinfonia Cymru, and London Philharmonic Orchestra (Foyle Future Firsts). Alongside this they all regularly engage in education and outreach work, as well as other chamber music settings.
For this performance, the Quartet will be playing music from Elgar, Schumann, Borodin and Blake.
Borodin’s String Quartet No.2 is one of the most popular and enduring works by the Russian composer and is known for its lush melodies and rich harmonies. It is an excellent example of the romantic style of music that was popular in the late 19th century. It is dedicated to Borodin’s wife, with some scholars believing that it was written as a gift for their 20th anniversary, and that we can hear within the music the moment that they first met.
The intermezzo from Schumann’s String Quartet in A minor is a beautiful and expressive movement that showcases Schumann’s unique style; characterised by its dynamic, expressive power and rich harmonies.
A concert of Romantic works would not be complete without the charming “Salut D ‘Amour” by Elgar, (“Love’s Greeting”) which is one of the composer’s best-known short pieces, dedicated to his then-fiancé, Caroline Alice.
Howard Blake composed the score for the film adaption of the famous novel, “A Month in the Country” in 1987. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and redemption, and it is known for its evocative and poetic descriptions of the English countryside.
