Norwegian quartet closes Music for Galway anniversary season

Date Published: 01-Apr-2011

THE 30th Anniversary Season of Music for Galway will come to a close with a concert featuring the Norwegian Engegård String Quartet on Tuesday next, April 5 at the Aula Maxima, NUIG at 8pm.

The Engegård Quartet was formed in 2006 and soon became one of the most sought after chamber music ensembles in Norway.

By 2008 the quartet had an internationally acclaimed debut CD under its belt and now performs throughout Europe, with a concert schedule that includes regular tours of Scandinavia.

The quartet members are no strangers to Ireland as they have been performing at the Kerry International Chamber Music festival for many years.

The Galway concert marks the start of a national tour that will take them to Cloghjordan, Waterville, Killorglin, Bantry and to the Hugh Lane gallery in Dublin.

The programme for Galway includes Haydn’s String quartet Op. 76 no.3, one of a set of quartets that were commissioned by Count Erdödi and originally intended to be played exclusively for him and his guests.

Bartok’s short String quartet No. 3 will also be performed. That was written in 1926 and influenced by Hungarian folk music.

A great treat is in store for the second half of the programme, Grieg’s String quartet Op. 27. Franz Liszt declared about that piece: It is long time since I have encountered a new composition, especially a string quartet, which has intrigued me as greatly as this distinctive and admirable work by Grieg”.