Orava Quartet: Chamber Masterpieces

In an historic 11th year in residence with Camerata, the ARIA-nominated Orava Quartet return with three epic masterpieces of chamber music by three of the great composers: Beethoven, Schumann and Shostakovich.

Beethoven's String Quartet No. 1 heralded the beginning of what would become one of the greatest cycles of music in the entire Western Classical canon, the sixteen quartets of Beethoven which spanned the whole of his creative life. This early string quartet is purely classical in style, much like those of Haydn and Mozart, yet already bursting with energy, drama and powerful expressiveness.

The eighth string quartet by Shostakovich remains, for good reason, one of the enduring favourites of the genre and the Oravas’ renowned performances of this work have been described by Limelight as “hair-raising”, “visceral” and “edge-of-the-seat” compelling.

Crowning the program is what is often called one of the greatest chamber works of all time: Schumann’s piano quintet Op.44, of such majesty and artistry that it is also widely regarded as the composer’s most magnificent chamber piece.