The brilliant Raja Quartet opens a treasure trove of great music from the first half of the 20th century, from Ukraine, Argentina and Ireland.

Donetsk-born Prokofiev’s first string quartet was first performed in Washington in 1931. At the time Prokofiev was living in Paris, having fled his native land after the 1917 Russian Revolution. This wonderful quartet combines music of exuberant brilliance with gorgeous tunes and a deep, expressive melancholy.

Aloys Fleischmann wrote his lovely Movement for String Quartet while a student at University College, Cork 1927-1932. It was performed privately in Munich in 1932 but not publicly until 2010 when the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet played it in UCC’s Glucksman Gallery – and many times thereafter.

Ginastera’s stunning first string quartet is still one of the great unknowns in the quartet repertoire. Rooted in the rhythmic energy of Argentinian folk tradition this is wild and thrilling music – save for a haunting slow movement – and will bring this concert to a memorable close.

Raja Quartet

Phoebe White, violin
Claire Wells, violin
Martin Moriarty, viola
Callum Owens, cello

The Programme

Prokofiev – String Quartet No.1 [1930]
Aloys Fleischmann – Quartet Movement [c.1930]
Ginastera – String Quartet No.1 [1948]