The Cape Chamber Music Collective (CCMC) is delighted to welcome back Cape Town’s award-winning Kirby Quartet. They will perform Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 3 Op.73 along with selections from Wood Works, a compilation of Nordic folk music arranged by the Danish String Quartet, and Dvorak’s own string quartet arrangement of songs from his song cycle, Cypresses, B. 11.
The Kirby Quartet was formed in 2022, with members Nicholas Bruiners and Kaitlin Visser Downie (violins), Micaela Arries (viola), and Ashlin Grobbelaar (cello). All students at the South African College of Music, University of Cape Town, the quartet is named after the Kirby Collection, a room at the College housing over 600 African, European and Asian instruments, as well as sound recordings, field notes, photos, correspondence and more.
In 2022, they placed as a runner up in the Stellenbosch University National Ensembles Competition and won the 15th Annual Schock Prize for Chamber Music in October 2022 for their performance of Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 3, Op.73 in F Major, which they will present in these upcoming concerts.
Already known to CCMC audiences, the Kirby Quartet presented a 2022 programme with pianist Gerhard Joubert at venues and events including Spier Wine Estate’s 2022 Jazz and Classical Encounters festival, Oude Nectar, No. 6 Spin Street, Erin Hall and Casa Labia. In 2023 they were invited to perform at the Greyton Classics for All festival, and Ashlin and Kaitlin were also invited to perform as the Kirby Duo for Fine Music Radio’s Weekend Away in September.
Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 3 Op.73
The first half sees the quartet perform the String Quartet No. 3 Op.73 by Dmitri Shostakovich. What has become a cornerstone of the string quartet repertoire is Shostakovich’s only composition from 1946. He dedicated it to the members of the Beethoven Quartet, who gave the work’s first performance in Moscow on their namesake’s 176th birthday on 16 December 1946. The piece’s five movements take the listener through everything from a playful opening to lush lyricism, with themes from the first movement recurring in the finale to tie up to the piece. Shostakovich’s demanding writing is sure to excite!
The Danish String Quartet is a well-regarded classical string quartet with a passion for Nordic folk music. When they brought their unique arrangements of Nordic folk songs to the concert stage, the pieces became so popular that they were subsequently recorded and published, giving audiences the world over to experience the sheer joy and beauty of these songs. In a perfect complement to the Shostakovich, these arrangements will alternate with three of Dvorak’s songs from Cypresses, a cycle written in response to an early romantic rejection experienced by Dvorak, to provide a second half sure to be remembered.
The programme features four times:
Durbanville: Wednesday, 20 September, 19:00, at Rust-en-Vrede Gallery, Wellington Road, Durbanville. Tickets are R160.
Cape Town City Centre: Saturday, 23 September, 19:30 at No 6 Spin Street. Tickets are R160.
Cape Town: Sunday, 24 September, 15:00 at Erin Hall, 8 Erin Rd, Rondebosch. Tickets are R160.
Hermanus: Friday, 24 November,18:30 at The Harvest Barn, Bouchard Finlayson Boutique Winery. Tickets R150 for non-members. Book email: hermanusmusicsociety@gmail.com
The Cape Chamber Music Collective (CCMC) is a unique initiative who aims to bring high-class chamber music to established audiences and to introduce classical music to new audiences. The CCMC supports local musicians, devising programmes that give young musicians the opportunity to perform alongside established professionals and also providing all performers with competitive fees. Programming is aimed at mixing standard repertoire with lesser known works and also promotes and commissions works by South African composers.
All tickets can be booked on Quicket, or the CCMC website here.
Who: Kirby Quartet Cape Chamber Music Collective
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