Lunchtime Concert: Carducci String Quartet

Carne Trust Ensemble in Residence

TUE 9 MAY 13.05

Matthew Denton violin
Michelle Fleming violin
Eoin Schmidt-Martin viola
Emma Denton cello


Rebecca Clarke Poem for String Quartet

Caroline Shaw Entr'acte

Haydn String Quartet in B-flat major, “Sunrise”
I. Allegro con spirito
II. Adagio
III. Menuetto: Allegro
IV. Finale: Allegro ma non troppo


The Carducci Quartet is recognised as one of today’s most successful string quartets. Performing over 90 concerts worldwide each year the quartet also run an annual festival in Highnam, Gloucester and are quartet in residence at Dean Close School in Cheltenham, where they teach young string players and coach chamber music. In September 2014 they curated their first Carducci Festival in Castagneto-Carducci, Italy: the town from which they took their name.

An internationally renowned Anglo-Irish string quartet based in the UK, the versatile and award-winning Carducci String Quartet has performed everything from brand new quartets, classic works by Haydn, complete Shostakovich cycles, and even collaborated with folk-rock icon Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull. Founded in 1997 around the talents of Matthew, Michelle, Eoin, and Emma, the quartet has won numerous international competitions, including Concert Artists Guild International Competition 2007 and First Prize at Finland’s Kuhmo International Chamber Music Competition 2004. In 2016, they took home a Royal Philharmonic Society Award for their performances of cycles of the complete Shostakovich Quartets. This Shostakovich15 project was accompanied by a recording of quartets no. 4, 8 and 11: their second disc for Signum Classics, and it was recognised by BBC Music Magazine as a fine achievement, boasting excellent ensemble, musical insight and sensitive attention to detail. The quartet has released a bevy of acclaimed recordings on their own label, Carducci Classics, as well as Signum Classics. Their Naxos recordings of Philip Glass Quartets have had over six million plays on Spotify.

Education work is an important element of the Carducci Quartet’s work, earning them a place on the Royal Philharmonic Society Award shortlist for their family concert ‘Getting the Quartet Bug!’. The Carducci Music Trust was set up to support their work in schools and with young musicians. They are also a Carne Trust Ensemble in Residence at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London and perform a number of school concerts each year supported by the CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust.

Old Royal Naval College Chapel
Admission free, no ticket required