Our Secretary, Jill Martin, writes:
February can be a bleak month as winter drags on and spring is still a distant prospect. In such times, music can have a positive, immediate impact on our mental state. Fast tempos can psychologically and physiologically arouse us, helping energize us for the day. Slower, meditative tunes can help us to relax and lower our stress levels.
The Strad describe The Brodsky Quartet as “players who give unstintingly of their passion and energies, playing with a spirit so transformational you felt they were actually improving the world”. If there ever was a time when we need music to improve the world, it’s now.
Since its formation in 1972 the Brodsky Quartet has performed over 3000 concerts on the major stages of the world and released more than 60 recordings. A natural curiosity and insatiable desire to explore has propelled the group in many artistic directions and continues to ensure them not only a place at the very forefront of the international chamber music scene but also a rich and varied musical existence. Their energy and craftsmanship have attracted numerous awards and accolades worldwide, while ongoing educational work provides a vehicle for passing on experience and staying in touch with the next generation. We are delighted they will be offering to work with students of the North Lincolnshire Music Service while they are in Scunthorpe.
A bit of background about The Brodsky:
In 1972 four schoolkids from the north of England, aged between 10 and 12, decided they wanted to form a string quartet. They were so keen on the, then, relatively obscure music of Dmitri Shostakovich that they wrote out the parts themselves from radio broadcasts. Within two years they were winning national competitions and performing some of the quartets to a packed out Royal Albert Hall in London. Last year they celebrated their 50th anniversary, although with a few changes of artists along the way, as only two of the original members still perform in the quartet. In this time, they have performed over 3,000 concerts on major stages around the world (including Scunthorpe Music Club!) and have over 70 recordings to their name. A couple of recent quotes should whet your appetite for this concert:
‘The brilliant Brodskys celebrate Sydney Opera House’s golden anniversary with three days of music by Bach, Schubert and Britten. Throughout, the unmistakable warm and rich Brodsky tone washed through the room.’ (Limelight, April 2023)
And of their recording of Schubert’s Cello Quartet:
‘In this exceptional interpretation, there are plenty of moments where the players individually or collectively make something happen – a tiny inflection in the phrasing here, an applied touch of colour there. Yet nothing is overdone, and the music always flows as it wants to.’ Malcolm Hayes, Classical Music Magazine (October 2022)
They first came to Scunthorpe in March 1984; why did we wait 40 years to invite them back?? Their programme for us includes Bach, Debussy and Schubert. I’m sure we are in for a musical treat.
News of two of our former artists, both winners of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, might interest you:
Sheku Kanneh-Mason was the castaway on Desert Island Discs last Sunday (repeated this morning). You can listen to the programme here. It’s available for the next three weeks.
Martin James Bartlett was featured in an article by the Guardian newspaper. You can read it here