For those of you who already know the
@quatuor_danel , it will come as no surprise how extraordinary they are. And if you haven’t encountered them yet, I can only encourage you to attend a concert or explore their recordings—especially their interpretations of the complete quartets by Weinberg and Shostakovich, which are truly remarkable.
Beyond their impeccable playing, what makes them so special to me is their unique approach to chamber music. In their performances there is always absolute clarity about which voice needs to come to the foreground. Their responsiveness to one another is not only sensitive and precise, but also wonderfully elastic and natural.
The
@quatuor_danel and I first met at the
@kuhmofestival in 2005—21 (!!) years ago—which now feels like a lifetime. Quite astonishingly, that is also the very year they became artists-in-residence at the University of Manchester, where we will have our shared recital this Thursday—one of those curious and beautiful coincidences.
Joining such a well-established ensemble as an “extra” player—or, in some sense, a guest soloist—is a fascinating artistic task. It requires a heightened level of listening and adaptability to find a way into an already deeply rooted musical language. For me, a central aspect is balance—particularly with the violin(s), in Mozart’s D major Quartet, but especially in Amy Beach’s Quintet Op.80 that we are performing together. Finding that shared space without either blending away or standing apart too strongly is a constant, subtle negotiation.
The colours I choose on the flute need to complement and gently highlight what is already present in the string texture, while also offering something distinct—something that brings a different light into the sound world. The aim is not to “compete” with the strings, but to weave into their fabric in a way that enhances both contrast and cohesion, allowing the flute to become an organic yet individual voice within the ensemble.
Our concert will take place this Thursday at 13:10 at the
@officialuom Martin Harris Centre (
@uommusic ). Do come along—you can simply turn up and join us! I’ll try to capture and share a few moments here as well.
