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Goldner String Quartet

Keith Saunders

Dene Olding, violin

Dimity Hall, violin

Irina Morozova, viola

Julian Smiles, cello

Celebrating its 29th Concert Season in 2023, the Goldner String Quartet has long-standing recognition as not only Australia’s pre-eminent string quartet, but as an ensemble of international significance, favourably compared with the best in the world.

The Quartet is named after Richard Goldner, founder of Musica Viva Australia. Launched in 1995 and still retaining all founding members, the musicians are well known to Australian and international audiences through their performances and recordings and for their concurrent membership of the Australia Ensemble at UNSW. All members have occupied principal positions in organisations such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Unanimous audience and critical acclaim following their London debut at Wigmore Hall in 1997 ensured the Goldner Quartet’s invitations to prestigious UK and European festivals. Performances in the USA and throughout Asia have followed, in addition to several tours of New Zealand.

The Quartet has regularly toured nationally for Musica Viva Australia as part of their International Concert Series and has appeared at many of Australia’s leading music festivals including Musica Viva’s Sydney Festival, Music in the Hunter, and at Huntington Estate amongst many others, in addition to being Quartet-in-Residence at the annual Australian Festival of Chamber Music, in Townsville, North Queensland.

Strongly committed to teaching the next generation of string quartets, the Goldners have mentored young ensembles through programs of the Australian Youth Orchestra, Musica Viva Australia, the Australian National Academy of Music, the Sydney Conservatorium, and AFCM Townsville.

New works have been regularly commissioned for the Goldners from many of Australia’s leading composers.

Program

Mozart’s charming Quartet K157 is the third of an early set of six, written in Milan in 1772 whilst he was there working on his Opera, Lucio Silla. He was still a teenager. It’s a gracious and sunny work in 3 movements, the Finale of which is particularly playful and energetic.
Shostakovich’s emotionally-charged 8th Quartet is a cornerstone of the repertoire and one of his most-often performed works. A motif based on the composer’s initials opens the work and it re-appears in some form in every movement. 
The masterful Beethoven Quartet Op.59 is the 2nd of the 3 Quartets commissioned by Count Razumovsky (the 3rd movement contains a Russian theme in his honour). The slow movement is particularly beautiful and according to Carl Czerny may have been inspired by Beethoven’s contemplation of the stars and the music of the spheres.

Mozart Quartet No.4 in C major K.157

Shostakovich Quartet No.8 in C minor Op.110

Interval

Beethoven Quartet in E minor, Op.59 No.2

4 x wire music stands

4 x flat-bottomed chairs without arms

If possible, the option of a height-adjustable piano stool for the cellist would be appreciated.

Microphone for talking to audience

The members of the Goldner String Quartet are all experienced musicians and educators, and are available for workshops and masterclasses

Available throughout the year

Book an artist

Travel to centres in regional NSW is subsidised through the support of Create NSW. Musica Viva Australia can book the artists, arrange all travel and accommodation, provide posters, flyers and program information.
If you are interested in bringing an ensemble to your town or city, please contact:

Patrick Brearley

Manager, Regional Touring & Special Projects

pbrearley@musicaviva.com.au 

02 8394 6662