Melbourne’s own International prize-winners, Affinity Quartet, return from a period in Europe to perform Beethoven’s first foray into string quartets, the Opus 18, as a mini cycle over two days.
The Opus 18. Is considered by many to be an expression of total mastery of the string quartet form. The string quartet was re-invented, liberated and developed by Haydn, Mozart and Mendelssohn in turn, and in the Op 18 the young Beethoven conquers all. This superbly inventive and passionate music is performed by the rising stars of the next generation of Australian chamber musicians.
‘’This group of musicians has a collective wisdom and maturity which is singularly impressive … Affinity is a musical force with which to be reckoned.’’
Repertoire
Beethoven Opus 18 Part Two
String Quartet no.4 in C minor 23’
String Quartet no.6 in B-flat major 27′
Interval
String Quartet no.1 in F major 30’
Beethoven Opus 18 Part One
The performance of Part One is on Saturday 17 Aug and requires a separate ticket. Full event details can be found here.
Artists
Josephine Chung, violin
Nicholas Waters, violin
Ruby Shirres, viola
Mee Na Lojewski, cello
With these six compact and ground-breaking string quartets, a young Beethoven, still in his twenties, defies the logic of the Enlightenment to create a striking new direction for this intimate medium.
Don’t miss this powerfully crafted, timeless program performed by one of the most exciting chamber ensembles in Australia… .. ‘The young ensemble thus sets in motion a perfectly coordinated machine that takes the listeners between their wheels and releases them breathlessly.’ From Affinity Quartet review ‘Rollercoaster Ride on 16 Strings’, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany, January 2024.
You may also like?
If you’ve already decided you’d like to attend Part One, you’ll have the choice to add it to your cart at checkout* when purchasing Part Two.
*Subject to availability.
Tickets
You may also like?
If you’ve already decided you’d like to attend Part One, you’ll have the choice to add it to your cart at checkout* when purchasing Part Two.
*Subject to availability.
Meet the Artists
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Affinity Quartet
Forming in 2015 Australia’s Affinity Quartet appeared on Melbourne’s classical music scene as ‘one of the most exciting ensembles to make their mark.’ Classic Melbourne. Violinists Josephine Chung and Nicholas Waters, violist Ruby Shirres and cellist Mee Na Lojewski have recently won major prizes in four international string quartet competitions. At the 2023 Melbourne International String Quartet Competition Affinity Quartet was awarded the Audience Prize, the Robert Salzer String Quartet First Prize, and the Monash University Grand Prize; the first Australian group to win the competition in its 32year history.
This milestone follows their Second Prize awards at the 2023 Bad Tölz International String Quartet Competition, Germany, and the Mozart International String Quartet Competition, Austria. At the latter, Affinity Quartet was also awarded Special Prize for the Best Interpretation of a Contemporary Work for their performance of Brett Dean’s String Quartet no.3 ’Hidden Agendas’. In 2022 Affinity Quartet became the first Australian string quartet to reach the Finals of London’s Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition, winning Third Prize.
Affinity Quartet continues to receive formative guidance from Günter Pichler, Alban Berg Quartet founder and first violin, at the Escuela Reina Sofia Madrid, and has also recently benefited from the support of the McGill International String Quartet Academy Montreal; the Amsterdam String Quartet Biennale; the Australian National Academy of Music; and from quartet musicians Jonathan Brown (Cuarteto Casals); Oliver Wille (Kuss Quartet); Heime Müller (Artemis Quartet).
The group’s work includes performing and commissioning new Australian works for string quartet. Their première performances include works by Brett Dean (AU), Darrin Archer (AU), Matt Laing (AU), Tom Misson (AU), and Sally Beamish (UK). Affinity Quartet’s 2022 commission of In Perpetuum by Matt Laing, funded by Kingsley Gee, was premièred at The Melbourne Recital Centre with acclaimed performances at the ANAM Quartetthaus Festival, Melbourne, in May 2023.
Affinity Quartet receives generous ongoing support from Melbourne architects Kennedy Nolan, Cope-Williams Arts Foundation, Alex Grant Violins Melbourne, private instrument assistance, advisors, and a growing community of supporters.
