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Utzon Music 2023 Alma Moodie Quartet Romantic Journey

24 September 2023

In the Utzon Room

Classical Music

Explore the intensity of expression and rich emotions of musical Romanticism with the Alma Moodie Quartet in a program ranging from Beethoven to Zemlinsky.

The quartet performed… with gusto, passion, and accuracy…

Limelight

A Romantic journey from darkness to light

Formed in 2021, the Alma Moodie Quartet takes its name from a Queensland-born violinist who, despite an acclaimed reputation in Europe between the wars, has been largely forgotten. But if the enthusiastic response to the Quartet’s debut performances is any guide, Alma Moodie’s name is about to become much better known. 

The Quartet has devised a program that Alma herself might have recognised. Webern and Zemlinsky represent the kind of new works she championed. A Beethoven string quartet represents the classical canon.

For modern ears, this concert traverses the Romantic landscape from darkness to light. Webern’s Six Bagatelles are musical haikus, condensing intense expression into the space of five minutes. Like Webern, Zemlinsky pushed the Romantic language to extremes. His final string quartet, written in memory of Alban Berg, was blacklisted as “degenerate” by the Nazis and its magnificent invention wasn’t heard in public until 1967. Beethoven’s “Harp” quartet got its nickname from the way the musicians pluck their strings and it shows the composer in an unusually serene and optimistic mood.

Sydney Opera House Presents

Hearing the Alma Moodie Quartet in the Utzon Room in 2023 gives you eternal gloating rights because you were there at the beginning when this trailblazing, young quartet were just warming up. Don't miss it.

Casey Green, Utzon Music Curator

Artist Information

Artists

Alma Moodie Quartet

Kristian Winther and Anna Da Silva Chen violins
Dana Lee viola
Thomas Marlin cello

PROGRAM

WEBERN Six Bagatelles, Op.9
ZEMLINSKY String Quartet No.4
BEETHOVEN String Quartet No.10 (Harp)

Other information

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