The Affinity Quartet has been described in Classic Melbourne as ‘one of the most exciting ensembles to make their mark.’

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 including the first Australian group to win the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition in its 32 year history.

The program at Beleura includes Beethoven’s charming and elegant Quartet in G Major, Op.18 No.2, that pays homage to his teacher Haydn with its wit and humour. Unmistakable however is his unique mix of profundity and profanity with its drama and shades of darkness.

Bartok’s String Quartet no.1 depicts vividly the turmoil, influences and change during this period of the composer’s life. In a letter he described the first movement as a ‘funeral dirge’ and one can feel a sense of loss and yearning. Importantly however he had commenced his quest to collect and catalogue folk tunes, and his music is already being infused with this rustic flavour and energy. The genius that was to ultimately make the folk idiom his own language is in a full flight of discovery and experimentation, with a compelling narrative that is already a synthesis and integration of many ideas and influences.  - Timothy Young Classical Curator.

 Program

Beethoven, String Quartet op.18 no.2 in G Major 26’  

Bartok, String Quartet no.1 30’