Outstanding performance by Arcadia String Quartet,5 aug. 2014

On the 5th night of Academia Sighisoara the winners of the Wigmore Hall London International String Quartet Competition (2012) and the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition, Japan (2014) offered an outstanding musical experience to the audience gathered at the baroque concert hall of Sighisoara. The Arcadia String Quartet from Cluj (Ana Török, violin; Răsvan Dumitru, violin; Traian Boală, viola; Zsolt Török, cello) performed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Adagio and Fugue, Leoš Janáček's Second Quartet (Intimate Letters) and Ludwig van Beethoven's Quartet in C sharp minor op.131.
 

Winners of the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition in 2014, the Wigmore Hall London International String Quartet Competition in 2012, the Almere International Chamber Music Competition in 2011 and the International Chamber Music Competition Hamburg in 2009, the Arcadia Quartet is rapidly establishing itself as one of the most exciting string quartets of their generation.

Formed in 2005 while students at the "Gheorghe Dima" Music Academy in Romania, the quartet has performed across the world including performances at the Budapest Spring Festival, George Enescu Festival in Heidelberg, Cite International des Arts in Paris, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Pollack Hall in Montreal, Amsterdam Concertgebouw and in Beijing.

The 12/13 Season sees them perform at the Wigmore Hall, Q’arto Mondi Festival in Poland, Salle Gaveau in Paris, Tel-Aviv, Portugal, Mecklenburg Vorpommern Festival, Kammermusiktage Mettlach, Zeist Music Days Festival in The Netherlands, Music at Paxton, George Enescu Festival in Romania and the opening night of the Beethoven Piano Competition in the Musikverein, Vienna.

Next season the quartet will, as part of their Wigmore Hall London International String Quartet Competition prize, tour the United Kingdom and Ireland, performing at HHH Concerts, Oxford Chamber Music Society, Lakeside Arts Center, Leamington Music, Cheltenham Music Society, Chichester Chamber Concerts, Norfolk and Norwich Music Club, Alnwick Music Society, Pollok House Arts Society, Milngavie Concert Club, Aberdeen Chamber Music Concerts, Kelso Music Concerts, Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, Limerick, Galway, Drogheda and Kilkenny. Further performances that season include concerts in Romania, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands and a residency at the renowned Banff Centre in Canada.

The Arcadia Quartet’s debut disc of works by Mendelssohn and Brahms was released by Fontenay Classics in 2009 attracting critical acclaim. Ensemble Magazin wrote of “their intimate performance”, “their exceptional sonority” and their “expressive power which leaves a deep impression on the listener”. A recording of Janacek Quartet No.1 and No.2 was recently released on the Orchid Classics label.

Tuesday, August 5, 8 pm, City Hall

With: 

Arcadia Quartet:
Ana Török, Violin
Răsvan Dumitru, Violin
Traian Boală, Viola
Zsolt Török, Cello

Program: 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) - Adagio and Fugue

Leoš Janáček (1854-1928) - Second Quartet: Intimate Letters

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) - Quartet in C sharp minor op.131
    
Photo © Gábor Loránd
More photos here!