The Australian String Quartet Return to the National Concert Stage in June and July

The Australian String Quartet (ASQ) will return to the national concert stage in June and July with a program showcasing two powerhouses of musical history alongside one of the most in-demand voices of Australia's own contemporary landscape.

Commencing in Perth on Tuesday 18 June 2024 and touring to Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, the musical program includes a great classic, an often-overlooked post-romantic gem, and a contemporary Australian work by one of the leading composers of this generation--contemporary Australian composer Harry Sdraulig.

Sdraulig's String Quartet No.2 is paired alongside the first of Beethoven's legendary late string quartets and Korngold's impressionistic String Quartet No.2. Sdraulig's String Quartet No.2 will be performed for the first time nationally outside of its World Premiere at the 2024 Dunkeld Festival of Music. The work was commissioned by John Griffiths for his wife Beth.

According to Sdraulig the opportunity to present the work in a program featuring landmark works from Beethoven and Korngold is a great honour.

"This opportunity to have my second-string quartet toured by the incredible musicians of the
ASQ alongside the dynamic masterpieces of Beethoven and Korngold is a career highlight. I have such a deep admiration for the ASQ, and I am beyond excited to have been programmed as part of
their Vanguard tour", Sdraulig said.

For ASQ violinist Dale Barltrop, the program presents three works that dare to take the string quartet to new heights, making the tour a must-see for lovers of the genre.

"This program brings together three trail blazers - a venerable master, a young Australian voice and a Hollywood legend whose music is too often overlooked. Beethoven, Sdraulig and Korngold are visionaries in their own unique way and this concert celebrates the individuality and sense of exploration that make each work so compelling."

"Showcasing new Australian music is a passion for the quartet and the opportunity to present Harry Sdraulig's second string quartet for audiences around the country fills us with great pride and anticipation".

For more information and program notes for the Vanguard tour please visit: https://asq.com.au/whats-on