Finale of Lunchtime with ConTempo series

The Galway Music Residency’s current Lunchtimes with ConTempo series ‘Beethoven – Rage & Mystery’ concludes on Tuesday June 5 at 1.10pm at St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church.

The series, which has been attended by thousands of people since it opened last September, focused on the mature quartets by Beethoven.

During the series finale, the Galway ConTempo Quartet will perform Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 127, which was in fact the first of Beethoven’s late quartets, completed in 1825.

It was also the first of three quartets commissioned by Prince Nikolai Galitzine, an important patron of the Arts in Vienna at the time. When Prince Galitzine said he would pay Beethoven “whatever amount you would deem adequate”, the composer charged 50 ducats per quartet, the approximate equivalent of €4,700 today.

Though the initial reception of the piece was unenthusiastic, as it was to be with all six of Beethoven’s late works, following further performances, Beethoven reported to his publisher that “eople have a high opinion of the quartet. It is supposed to be the greatest and most beautiful quartet I’ve written, so they say…”.

Supported by NUI Galway (Education Partner), Arts Council, GMIT, Galway City and County Councils, and German Embassy, admission to this event is free, open to all and early arrival is recommended.

Busker Brownes & Kirby’s Restaurant, the lunchtime partner of Galway Music Residency, will be offering audience members 10% off post-concert lunch upon presentation of the concert programme – a minimum spend of €10 applies.

Lunchtimes with ConTempo will return in September. For further information, log on to www.thegalwaymusicresidency.ie.