We know you are as eager as we are for concert and creative activity to return in whatever capacity possible. The discovery of new and old sounds, living in the miraculous sound world of the string quartet, and sharing great music seems needed now more than ever before. Our motto has always been “caring for tradition, daring to be different” and in 2022, we shall do just that. Over the last 18 months, we undertook a full evaluation of our activity and were so buoyed by the response from our audience.

In 2022, we complete our recording project of the works for string quartet by Margaret Sutherland in partnership with ABC Classic, undertake our first national tour for Musica Viva Australia with dear friend, Karin Schaupp (guitar), record for broadcast

no less than four new works by emerging and established composers, continue our celebrated Composer Development Program, continue our role as Artistic Patrons of John Noble’s Quartet Program, and commission seven new works to be played alongside our beloved Beethoven, Brahms and Haydn. To say we are excited for 2022 to begin is quite the understatement!

Constantly evolving, we have begun work on our new online string quartet hub, FQ Digital. It will be a one-stop portal for you to enjoy our online content, interviews, exploration into the music, curated listening and viewing, and more. With a variety of free and paid content, an FQ Digital subscription will give you broad access like never before. Who needs Netflix?!

We can’t wait to see you at a concert or through FQ Digital in 2022.

Thibaud, Zoe, Wilma and Helen

PROGRAM • 60 mins no interval

CLARA SCHUMANN Op. 16 arranged for string quartet by Jessica Wells #
MELODY EÖTVÖS “Hope. Fear. Anything.” ^
MARGARET SUTHERLAND String Quartet No. 2 “Discussion”
KATY ABBOTT “Splitting the Ambivalence” *

# Commissioned by Flinders Quartet
^ Commissioned by John and Irene Garran
* Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from Kim Williams AM

ST JOHN’S CHURCH • SATURDAY 28 MAY, 2:30PM

MONTSALVAT BARN GALLERY • SUNDAY 29 MAY, 2.30PM

PRIMROSE POTTER SALON • MONDAY 30 MAY, 11AM & 6PM

Now available to FQ Digital subscribers for on-demand viewing digital.flindersquartet.com

“After premiering “Hidden Thoughts II: Return to Sender” by Katy Abbott in 2020, we knew she was the perfect person to explore and uncover Margaret Sutherland’s life through a new song cycle using text from Margaret’s own letters and diaries.

Sutherland’s life story is extraordinary and she played a crucial role in the development of Australia’s music scene. I wouldn’t be surprised if a movie is made soon!

Camille Claudel‘s life is already the subject of at least one film and as Rodin’s muse, her own creativity was often overlooked. Using text in her native French from letters by Camille, Melody Eötvös introduces Australian audiences to this very significant sculpteur.

It’s not the first time a string quartet has been used as a biographical tool (Smetana’s “From My Life” being the obvious example) and I am thoroughly looking forward to understanding these artists even more deeply through this project.”

THIBAUD PAVLOVIC-HOBBA, VIOLIN

PROGRAM • 60 mins no interval

JOSEPH HAYDN String Quartet in A major, Op. 20, No. 6
JOHANNES BRAHMS String Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 51, No. 1
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH Two Pieces for String Octet, Op. 11 with Piruli Quartet

PORT PHILLIP ESTATE • FRIDAY 5 AUGUST, 8.30PM

MONTSALVAT UPPER GALLERY • SUNDAY 7 AUGUST, 2.30PM

TEMPO RUBATO • MONDAY 8 AUGUST, 8PM

“Of all the works we are playing in 2022, these quartets by Brahms and Haydn need no introduction. For me, I can’t wait to sink into the sumptuous romanticism and grandeur of Brahms and have fun with the ingenuity and wit of Haydn. What better way to get through a Melbourne Winter! At this point in the year, look out for concerts involving the Piruli Quartet. The winners of the Flinders Quartet prize for the Musica Viva Strike a Chord competition, they are really magnificent players and we’re looking forward to working with them and introducing them to you.”

HELEN IRELAND, VIOLA

PROGRAM • 60 mins no interval

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN String Quartet No. 1 in F major, Op. 18, No. 1

Beethoven Vignettes:
NATALIE NICOLAS “Blue” ^^
NAOMI BROWN “Fractured Peace” ^
CLAIRE HIGGINS “Remnant #133” *
CLARE STRONG “Tribute to LvB” ^^^
CLAIRE L. FARRELL “fugue state” #

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 133

* Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from Richard Gubbins
# Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from Dimity Reed and Garry Joslin
^ Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from FQ Syndicate #1
^^ Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from FQ Syndicate #2
^^^ Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from FQ Syndicate #3

SHEPPARTON ART MUSEUM • POSTPONED, NEW DATE TBA SOON

ARTS CENTRE, WARBURTON • SUNDAY 30 OCTOBER, 2.00PM CANCELLED DUE TO FLOOD IMPACTS / ROAD CLOSURES

BELEURA HOUSE & GARDEN • THURSDAY 3 NOVEMBER, 1:30PM phone (03) 5975 2027 for tickets

THE CAPITAL BENDIGO • FRIDAY 4 NOVEMBER, 11:00AM and 8:00PM

MACEDON MUSIC • SUNDAY 6 NOVEMBER, 2.30PM SOLD OUT

ST JOHN’S CHURCH • SATURDAY 12 NOVEMBER, 2:30PM BOOK NOW

MONTSALVAT BARN GALLERY • SUNDAY 13 NOVEMBER, 2.30PM tickets at the door (online bookings have closed)

PRIMROSE POTTER SALON • MONDAY 14 NOVEMBER 11AM & 6PM BOOK NOW

“Beethoven: the standard of greatness against which all composers since have measured themselves. For any quartet player, coming back to Beethoven is always therapeutic, a spiritually nourishing and technically strengthening homecoming and I can’t wait to get immersed in this program. It encompasses a wide range of Beethoven’s output from one of his virtuosic Op. 18 set of six early quartets to the iconic and fearsome Grosse Fugue from his Late Period. Originally written as the last movement of his Op. 130 quartet, it took on a life of its own when Beethoven wrote an alternate last movement for 130 and more importantly, because of its scale, drama, complexity and unrelenting, uncompromising intensity - and it’s just as intense for the audience as it is for the performers. What’s really special about this program, though, is the opportunity we’ve given to five young composers to explore the Grosse Fugue and respond to it in their own way with tiny miniatures, the exact opposite of the colossus before them. I’m intrigued to see what they come up with!”

WILMA SMITH, VIOLIN