Sunday, July 14th, 2.30pm

The Goldner String Quartet have graced Australian and international stages for 30 years. Revered as one of Australia’s finest ensembles, 2024 marks their final year performing together and in this intimate recital the Goldners present two hallmarks of the string quartet repertory: Shostakovich’s 8th Quartet, a desolate expression of human agony and torment; and the second work of Beethoven’s Opus 59 ‘Razumovsky’ Opus, a work of extraordinary depth and beauty with a glorious second movement inspired by the ‘starry sky’ and ‘music of the spheres’. 

A fitting farewell for a quartet who has captivated audiences for decades. 

Program

RACHMANINOFF - Romance from String Quartet No. 1
SHOSTAKOVICH - Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Opus 110
BEETHOVEN - String Quartet No. 8 in E minor, Opus 59, No. 2 ‘Razumovsky’

Dene Olding - 1st Violin
Dimity Hall - 2nd Violin
Irina Morozova - Viola
Julian Smiles - Cello

  • Dene Olding - 1st Violin
    Dimity Hall - 2nd Violin
    Irina Morozova - Viola
    Julian Smiles - Cello

    The Goldner String Quartet has widespread recognition as not only Australia’s pre-eminent string quartet, but as an ensemble of internaConal significance, favourably compared with the best in the world. Still retaining all founding members, the Goldners will celebrate their 30th and Final Concert Season in 2024.

    Their performances have been acclaimed throughout Australia, UK, Europe, USA, the Asia- Pacific, and NZ. They have regularly appeared at major fesCvals at home and abroad and have been Quartet-in-Residence both at their own Music in the Hunter fesCval for nearly 30 years and at the Australian FesCval of Chamber Music in Townsville, having performed in all but one festival there since the mid 1990s.

    Career highlights include performances at London’s Wigmore Hall, and New York’s 92nd St Y, whilst special projects include a retrospective of 20th Century quartets and the complete cycle of Beethoven’s String Quartets. These performances were recorded live and won the 2009 Limelight 'Best Classical Recording' Award.

    Numerous CDs are released on Hyperion, ABC Classics, Tall Poppies and Naxos labels, which have received rave reviews including Diapason D’Or, Editor’s Choice in Gramophone magazine, BBC Music Magazine and in Limelight magazine. The Goldners own DVD Documentary, recorded live with Peter Sculthorpe in 2012, entitled ‘The Quartets’ is released by ABC Classics.

    Strongly commiced to encouraging the next generation of string quartets, the Goldners have mentored young ensembles through programs of the Australian Youth Orchestra, Musica Viva Australia, ANAM, the Sydney Conservatorium and the Australian Festival of Chamber Music.

    The Quartet regularly premiere new works, commissioned from many of Australia’s leading composers.

The Artists