18 January 2026 @ 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
£21.00
Artists: Heath String Quartet
Concert Sponsor: Kerry and Graham Collins
Programme Includes
- Ludwig van Beethoven – String Quartet No. 16 in F major, Op. 135
- Matthew Locke – Suite III
- Grażyna Bacewicz – String Quartet No. 6
- Robert Schumann – String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Op. 41 No. 2
About the Concert
One of Britain’s most celebrated chamber ensembles returns to nadsa with a programme that brilliantly showcases the string quartet’s evolution across four centuries. The Heath Quartet, winners of the 2016 Gramophone Chamber Award and the first ensemble in fifteen years to claim the prestigious RPS Young Artists Award, brings their renowned “delicate perfection of sound” to bear on works spanning from the English Baroque to post-war Poland.
This thoughtfully curated programme opens with Beethoven’s final quartet, Op. 135, a work of profound simplicity that asks the fundamental question “Must it be?” before answering with radiant acceptance. The journey continues through Matthew Locke’s enchanting Suite III, a gem from the English Baroque that predates the classical quartet by a century, demonstrating the enduring appeal of four-part string writing. Grażyna Bacewicz’s Sixth Quartet represents a fascinating voice from 20th-century Poland, where the composer’s distinctive blend of neo-classical clarity and folk-inspired rhythms creates music of genuine originality. The afternoon concludes with Schumann’s passionate Second Quartet which was first performed on the 13th of September 1842 for Clara on her 23rd birthday.
About the Ensemble
The Heath Quartet’s distinguished discography—from their acclaimed Tippett cycle to their complete Bartók recordings—demonstrates their exceptional range and interpretative insight. Their performances at venues from Berlin’s Pierre Boulez Saal to the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg have earned them international recognition, whilst their commitment to both established masterworks and contemporary repertoire marks them as true musical explorers.
This promises to be an unmissable opportunity to experience one of Britain’s finest quartets in an intimate setting, presenting a programme that celebrates both familiar treasures and intriguing discoveries.