“… impressive unanimity of attack and expression … the balance between the four instruments was perfectly delineated.”
Nicholas Waters (violin), Zoe Knighton (cello), Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba (violin), Helen Ireland (viola)
Photo credit: Pia Johnson
FLINDERS QUARTET
Melbourne’s string quartet since 2000
Flinders Quartet (FQ) is instantly recognisable as one of Australia’s most loved chamber music ensembles. A quartet for the twenty-first century, FQ approaches its third decade with acknowledged musical skill and maturity, presenting dynamic and stirring performances of a full spectrum of repertoire.
Committed to industry development, FQ regularly commissions and premieres works by Australian composers. Their 2019 season includes the premiere a new work by emerging composer (and 2017 FQ Composer Development Program participant), Matthew Laing as well as a Stuart Greenbaum’s new work for string quartet, recorder and erhu. In their ongoing mission to further the Australian tradition of chamber music, FQ has previously commissioned and premiered works by Peter Sculthorpe, Katy Abbott, Ross Edwards, Elena Kats-Chernin, Paul Dean, Paul Grabowsky, Ian Munro, Iain Grandage, Andrew Ford, Calvin Bowman and Tom Henry. In 2016, FQ launched its Composer Development Program, working to further the career of emerging Australian composers.
Vanguards of the Melbourne chamber music scene, FQ continues its own subscription season and undertakes regular regional and interstate touring, performing for festivals and concert presenters throughout Australia. International engagements have taken FQ to the UK, Singapore, Canada, and most recently, Sweden and Finland, where they performed the complete string quartets by Sibelius.
FQ have a steadfast commitment to the development of Australian chamber music, musicians and audiences. As teachers and mentors, they have worked with the Australian Youth Orchestra and its developmental programs for young chamber groups. They also work with the Victorian Amateur Chamber Music Society and are regularly invited to tutor at secondary and tertiary institutions throughout Australia and in 2018, FQ were appointed Artistic Patrons of John Noble’s Quartet Program; an initiative that reaches student and amateur musicians in regional Victorian through mentoring and shared performances.
Flinders Quartet performing Brahms String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op. 111 with guest artist Chris Moore (viola)
“... exciting and effervescent ... had the audience sitting up in their seats paying close attention to the impeccable intonation, rhythmic unity and open communication of the four players...”
“… the incomparable Flinders Quartet ... displays a tight ensemble with exemplary intonation, capable of playing with shaping and inflection of phrasing that is both refined and dynamic. They move phrases on driving forward as well as holding back and delicately dwelling on those moments that need dwelling upon as a single unit. We are indeed fortunate to have resident in Australia a quartet of this very high calibre.”
“... enjoyable and unpretentious night of high-class music. The program was a reminder of the Flinders Quartet’s unique and refreshing ability to present an exceptional standard of classical music in a way that feels warm and human.”