Victoria String Quartet

BENEDICT HOLLAND, DAVID SPENCER, KIM BACKER, JENNIFER LANGRIDGE

Haydn 

Sunrise Quartet op 76 no 4

Britten

Three Divertimenti                                          

Puccini

Crysantemi

Mendelssohn

Quartet in D major, op 44 #1

The Victoria String Quartet made its début in Manchester’s historic Victoria Baths, of famed stained glass & mosaics. With a wealth of chamber music experience, they perform across the UK and were resident quartet at Buxton Festival in ’18 & ’19.

Benedict & Jennifer both teach at the Royal Northern College of Music, and Dave teaches at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama. They are joined by Kim Becker, a rising star who currently holds the viola seat of the Hallé Leadership Scheme.

Haydn is considered the father of the string quartet and this glorious one shows how he earns that title.

In Britten’s early Divertimenti, we see indications of his emerging skill and range.

Anticipating the Friday concert, we hear Puccini’s gem, melodies familiar from Manon Lescaut.

Mendelssohn had a flair for tunes and invention, evident in this cheerful quartet.