Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | String Quartet no. 3, Op.94

In a problematic acoustic environment, the Brodsky Quartet's sound did not always live up to the expectations.

From the claustrophobic intensity of Britten and Shostakovich to the sunny balm of Beethoven, this was an excellent recital. 

Six concerts of Suffolk’s finest home-grown produce garnished with side orders of Mozart, Copland and Elgar.

In commemoration of Britten’s centennial, the Centro Nacional de Difusión Musical, in collaboration with the British Council programmed a series entitled “Britten Classics”. This concert was a highlight.

As Benjamin Britten’s centenary year draws to an end, Royal Northern Sinfonia began their own tribute last night, with a Late Mix chamber concert that drew on works from the start and end of Britten’s composing career, in a tightly planned programme full of pleasing connections. Throughout his career, Britten nurtured and supported younger composers, and so after Britten’s Op.

Inclement weather stalks the Edinburgh Quartet; at least, those concerts which I’ve attended in the past few months. On cue the early evening heavens opened unstintingly. By the time the concert approached it had “faired”, as the Scots sometimes say, but perhaps disinclination to venture out had been irreversibly embraced by some. That’s not to say that the attendance was poor.

Freezing lunchtime weather made the golden uplighting on the stage a particularly welcome sight. The Badke Quartet played two pieces in this hour-long programme: Haydn’s Quartet in D major Op. 20 no. 4,, and Britten’s Quartet no. 3.

The centenary of Benjamin Britten continues to gather pace as we move through February and it was a warm welcome given to the Aronowitz Ensemble for an all-English programme of chamber music on Friday evening.

The final leg of Lammermuir Festival's Musical Journey brought us within a few metres of the shore, to the church of St. Andrew Blackadder and to arguably the most challenging programme of the day. Contemplation of the end of life informed each piece and the contrasting circumstances, responses and outcomes could be heard in the music.

Mit Schubert, Britten und Schostakowitsch öffnet und schließt das Belcea Quartet auf unterschiedliche Weise Kreise.

Tant de maîtrise et de technique – on ne se souvient pas, tout bonnement, d’avoir entendu un Quatuor plus solide – présageait d’un très beau moment pour le Quatuor n°9 de Beethoven, attendu de pied ferme après l’entracte.