Chiaroscuro Quartet

The Chiaroscuro Quartet has been described as ‘a trailblazer for the authentic performance of High Classical chamber music’ (Gramophone). Playing on gut strings with bows from the early 19th century, and led by violinist Alina Ibragimova, the quartet has been internationally praised for its performances of Viennese classics. Its subtle sound, evoking bygone candlelit worlds, brings the era of Haydn and Beethoven vividly to life.

As the pioneer of the string quartet, Haydn made space for each instrument to shine – from the violin’s vibrato to the cello’s bass notes. This development in musical history is beautifully demonstrated by two from Haydn’s Op 33 set, paving the way for the genre’s next hundred years.

The quartet then performs the first of Beethoven’s expansive Op 59 quartets which were commissioned by his patron Count Razumovsky. The three Razumovsky quartets broke down boundaries, pushing quartet music into new, expressive territories.

Presented by Edinburgh International Festival