Part I: The Secret History of the String Quartet

Join the Cambridge String Quartet as they explore the history of the string quartet – with a twist. History books tell us a story of the three Viennese titans, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. But what about the thousands of string quartet composers who were overlooked and then forgotten? Alongside some of the most famous music in the repertoire, we will reveal a more subversive, ‘secret’ history of genre, including works by Maddalena Lombardini, Antonín Kammell, Chevalier de Saint Georges & Hyacinthe Jadin, showing how they challenge social and musical convention in ways just as radical as the Viennese masters. Featuring works discovered in the archives of the Rowe Library, this event may even feature modern-day premieres. We look forward to letting you in on the secret!

This performance will form Part I of a two-part series, taking us from the birth of the string quartet to the middle of the nineteenth century. Join us for Part II on 10th March 2025, where we will continue our story to the present day!