A world-class musical journey through the eras, from the well-loved to the unexpected, is in store for the region’s audiences this month.
Violinists Minn Majoe and Haru Ushigusa; violist Martin Wray; and cellist Kirsten Jenson are the Dulcinea Quartet, a group of internationally-acclaimed musicians who have become noted for performing the classical string quartet standards alongside contemporary works.
Formed in 2008 at the Royal Academy of Music, the four accomplished musicians have benefitted from masterclasses with the Wihan, Skampa, Vanbrugh, Henschel and Chilingirian Quartets and coaching from eminent musicians such as Thomas Brandis, Martin Outram, Garfield Jackson and Hartmut Rohde. They were commended for their performance of Schumann’s String Quartet No.2 in the Wolfe Wolfinsohn Quartet Prize, described as having given an “award-winning performance.”
As well as classical music, the quartet enjoys performing modern works together. They are part of Anima, a small chamber ensemble which plays contemporary music alongside animated films. They have also worked with British and Japanese composers, programming new works into their recitals.
Prize-winning cellist and concerto soloist, and one of Bristol Schools Philharmonia’s many outstanding alumnae, Kirsten Jensen, returns to Dumfries and Galloway with the quartet. Kirsten is accustomed to playing to audiences in some of the world’s most prestigious venues and says the quartet are looking forward to coming to the region to deliver a chamber concert.
She said: “The way we go about interpreting a piece of music doesn’t change, no matter the audience size. What we do need to consider, is the space in which we’re performing. The larger the venue, the more aware we need to be about projecting our sound outwards and upwards, and really speaking to the people right at the back of the hall.
“In a smaller venue, it can feel more intimate because we’re closer to our audience, but again, the integral way we view the music itself will be the same.
“Everything we play, whether quartet, solo or orchestral, is chamber music of some form or another. We’re always trying to have a conversation with each other and the audience, and to a certain degree, everyone has the capability to understand the language of music.”
In keeping with Absolute Classic’s mission to dispel the general preconception that classical music is an exclusive genre and prove that world-class music can be enjoyed by all, the concerts are free to the under 26s and will reach the wider communities by touring some of the region’s lesser known venues.
Kirsten said: “Despite our love of contemporary music, we are completely aware that not all of it is considered accessible. However, if concerts can be tailored so that people of all ages can somehow relate to the music, I think classical music would thrive without having to worry about it being viewed in a negative light. This is why we’ve programmed Woodworks by The Danish Quartet, for example. Come along to a concert to find out why.
The Dulcinea Quartet will perform music from Haydn, Takemitsu and Mendelssohn at Annan Academy on Thursday, 19 October, and at Holywood Village Hall on Saturday, 21 October. Both events start at 7.30pm. They will also give concerts in the Cochran Hall, Kirkcudbright, on Friday, 20 October, at 7.30pm, and at the Buccleuch and Queensberry Arms Hotel, Thornhill, on Sunday 22 October, at 3.30pm, with music from the Judith Weir String Quartet; Barber String Quartet; Puts Credo; Danish Quartet Woodworks, as well as a set of Danish folk songs.
Kirsten added: “Our Dumfries and Galloway concerts will take the audiences on a journey through many different eras of music: the well-loved followed by the unexpected. We like to combine core repertoire from the quartet world with new works.”
Absolute Classics director, Alex McQuiston, said: “The Dulcinea Quartet are set to deliver four concerts across the region full of vibrancy and pizzazz. This is an exciting offering of both well-known and new works presented with and air of youthful glamour.”
For tickets and further information, visit www.absoluteclassics.co.uk
Next month, Nicholas Jones, cello, and Min-Jung Kym, piano will deliver the November concerts for Absolute Classics’ Autumn series.
