Vanishing visions of the idyll—a Utopian world of natural splendour, both aquatic and pastoral — are conjured by an intricate and highly original string soundscape from Thomas Adès, titled Arcadiana. Following this is Mozart’s String Quartet in D minor — intensely personal in its expression, moments of intimately sublime sorrow give way to bursts of playful radiance, in only the way Mozart can achieve.
Finishing this concert is a work which provides an outward lens to the internal world of a composer balancing a delicate and dangerous relationship with political powers. Dedicated to his third wife Irena, Dimitri Shostakovich’s String Quartet No.9 is defined by its introspective whisperings, caressing melodies, and dramatic edge-of-your-seat rhythmic bite.
PROGRAM
THOMAS ADÈS Arcadiana
MOZART String Quartet No.15 in D minor, K.421
SHOSTAKOVICH String Quartet No.9 in E-flat Major, Op.117
Approx.100 minutes including interval
