Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Coming up: Benyounes Quartet - Friday 1st February

The Benyounes String Quartet visit Concerts Penzance at St. John’s Hall on Friday 1st February at 7.30pm.   Rising stars of British Quartet playing, the Benyounes are making an excellent reputation with appearances at major festivals across Europe.  In June 2012 they shared the top prize at the 1st International Sándor Végh String Quartet Competition in Budapest and they give their debut performance at London’s Wigmore Hall later this year. With polished, tight ensemble and confident projecton the Benyounes Quartet already seem seasoned veterans despite their youth.

The first part of their programme celebrates Benjamin Britten’s centenary, opening with three Fantasies by Purcell, whose music had a profound influence on Britten, followed by his own 3rd String Quartet, a beguiling but profound work which confirmed the composer’s complete affinity with the quartet medium.  In the second part the Benyounes Quartet play Schubert’s great D minor ‘Death and the Maiden’ quartet which, with its compelling balance of drama and intimate yearning, has become one of the best loved works of the entire quartet repertoire.

Tickets cost £10, or £2 for under 19s and are available on the door or in advance from West Penwith Music, Union Street, Penzance 01736 364440 and Mounts Bay Wine, Bread Street, Penzance 01736 364118. 

Concerts Penzance offers free admission to people who are registered visually impaired – please phone in advance on 01736 350887.  A wine bar supplied by Mounts Bay Wine is open from 6.45pm.