String Quartet return to Leamington

The Royal String Quartet, from Warsaw, will return to Leamington to put on the concert, which takes place at the Pump Room from 7.30pm.

The programme starts with Mozart’s Quartet in D minor K421, which is followed by the second Quartet of the Polish composer, Karol Szymanowski, which he wrote in 1927.

Tchaikovsky’s first Quartet, which contains one of his most popular tunes, the Andante Cantabile, will conclude the concert.

The Royal Quartet’s line up since it was founded in 1998 consists of Izabella Szalaj-Zimak and Elwira Przybylowska on violins, Marek Czech on viola and Michal Pepol on cello.

They first played in Leamington as BBC New Generation Artists, an important step in their international career.

Richard Phillips, festival director for Leamington Music, said: “It is such a pleasure to welcome back a quartet like this – great talents who produce playing of terrific vitality.

“It is an interesting programme too, with the Mozart Quartet they can show how they play classical music.

“We have had both of Szymanowski’s string quartets before.

“They are wonderfully atmospheric works and in the hands of a Polish group really come alive.

“The Royal will follow with Tchaikovsky’s Quartet No 1., we had No 2 in our opening concert in October and his last and third will be played next May as part of an exciting Leamington Music Festival Weekend that is now nearly fully planned.”

The Royal Quartet has a busy November with concerts in Warsaw and Vienna, before a ten date tour of the UK to include this Leamington concert.

In early December, the Quartet returns to Madrid for two concerts.

Mr Phillips said: “On previous visits here by Polish quartets we have been delighted to welcome significant numbers to the concerts from the Polish community in the Leamington area, this adds an extra dimension to the occasion.”

Tickets are available from the Bridge House Theatre box office at Warwick School or the visitor information centre at the Pump Room.

Call 776438 or visit www.bridgehousetheatre.co.uk