Society is to welcome international quartet

The Van Kuijk String Quartet, winners of the 2015 International String Quartet competition at the Wigmore Hall in London, will be on stage at Alnwick Playhouse on Tuesday, October 11, at 7.30pm.

Founded as recently as 2012 and resident in both Paris and Madrid, they have already had great success throughout Europe. They won the Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition in Norway and are Laureates of the Aix en Provence Festival Academy.

It will be their first visit to Alnwick and they have chosen a programme which includes both Haydn and Beethoven. The concert begins with Haydn’s String Quartet in B flat, Opus 76 no 4. It is often referred to as ‘Sunrise’ because of the lovely curving ascent of the first violin from the softly held chord on the lower strings, a theme that is repeated in various guises throughout the piece.

They then move on to Ravel’s F major Opus 35 String Quartet. After the interval, they turn to Beethoven’s String Quartet No 16 in E flat major Opus 127, when they will display the technique and the emotional sensitivity that won them the First Prize at the Wigmore Hall.

All are welcome, book on 01665 510785 or www.alnwickplayhouse.co.uk