Some time ago, I was given a discount card by the organisers of Hay Music, and this is the first time I've made use of it.
The Quartet is named for Sir Michael Tippett, a composer who died in 1998, so of course they played his 5th Quartet. This was dedicated to Sally Groves when it was first performed in 1992, and she happened to be in the audience last night!
The first piece they played was Vaughan Williams' first string quartet, which he wrote after studying with Ravel in France, and somehow it manages to be very French, but instantly recognisable as Vaughan Williams at the same time.
After the interval, they launched into Schubert's string quartet known as Death and the Maiden. This was written in 1824, so this is its 200th anniversary. It's a thrilling piece of music, building up to a great finale, and it was lovely to see the cellist smiling to himself as he played - it obviously takes a lot of concentration to play, but he was still enjoying himself. The applause at the end was rapturous.
The Tippett Quartet plays a wide variety of classical music - they had several CDs for sale at the back of the church, and I was delighted to find a recording of Korngold's string quartets. I've known Korngold's music most of my life - he wrote the scores for several Errol Flynn movies! I'm less familiar with his chamber music, so I shall be settling down later to enjoy that.
Hay Music have organised several concerts during Hay Festival, and the next non-Festival concert will be on 21st June at Hay Castle, with A4 Brass Quartet. The quartet is formed of musicians from some of the best known brass bands in the country, including Brighouse and Rastrick, Fodens and Black Dyke, and they have a varied programme to play. Tickets cost £20, or £10 for under-25s.
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