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Tuesday May 21st at 7.30pm in Uppingham School Chapel
Timothy West with The Pavao String Quartet in
“Intimate Letters”
A dramatic retelling of the passionate illicit love affair that resulted in one of the finest and most passionate string quartets of the 20th century.
It was not until 1916 that Leos Janacek’s opera Jenufa began to convince the Prague public that he was more than a provincial organist. The extraordinary work that poured out over the next decade forced them to acknowledge his genius. A year after his Jenufa triumph, unhappily married, he fell in love with Kamila Stösslova, a 35-year-old married woman with 2 children, who became the subject of the String Quartet “Intimate Letters”, which he dedicated to her. Their affair lasteduntil his death in 1928.
In this dramatic recreation Timothy West reads the composer’s love letters – access to which was restricted for over forty years - interwoven with the movements of the composer’s magnificent and lyrical 2nd string quartet.
Not many classical string quartets have played on the Radio 1 Chart Show Live the day after performing Ravel in the Wigmore Hall. But for the Pavão Quartet this was a typical weekend. This versatile ensemble receives five star reviews for their recordings of Elgar and Bax, and also enjoy collaborating with jazz saxophonist Iain Ballamy and singers as diverse as Sir Willard White, Andrew Kennedy, Elaine Paige and Hayley Westenra.
Since forming 10 years ago at the Royal Academy of Music, they have built a remarkable reputation, andtonight’s programme is typical of their willingness to explore new ways of presenting the string quartet repertoire.
‘Refreshingly uninhibited performance’ ***** Financial Times
‘Sparkling playing’ Sean Rafferty Radio 3
‘Intoxicating warmth and emotional spontaneity’ The Strad
Tickets £18.00
Concessions £15.00
including wine
