Karol Szymanowski is one of many 20th century composers whose name is familiar, but whose music less so. And the reason for this remains a mystery: all one need do is listen to two string quartets by the composer to be bowled over by their peerless excellence. As with Debussy’s quartet, the singular subtlety and the range of nuances of these works enchant concert-goers from the opening to the very last note. In spite of an undeniable French influence, Szymanowski manages effortlessly to create his own voice, which is truly authentic.

The Flanders Festival is playing host to the Polish string quartet Meccore String Quartet who will play the music of one of the greatest Polish artists in all his immersive finesse. On Wednesday 11 October, the quartet will try to convince you of their mastery of Szymanowski’s repertoire in the large auditorium of the Collège Marie-Thérèse in Leuven.

Earlier the same day, the quartet will also give two master classes, the first of which will be on Szymanowski and the second devoted to Debussy, at the Institut Lemmens (Lemmens’ LUCA campus) in Leuven. These master classes will be followed by a screening of the documentary film “4“, in the presence of the director Daniel Kutschinski. You can find more information on the programme for this thematic day which precedes the concert HERE. 

PROGRAMME
Claude Debussy, String quartet
Karol Szymanowski, String quartets 1 & 2

MECCORE STRING QUARTET
Wojciech KOPROWSKI – violin
Jarosław NADRZYCKI – violin
Michał BRYŁA – alto
Karol MARIANOWSKI – cello 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
>>> Collège Marie-Thérèse (Sint-Michielsstraat 6, 3000 Louvain), Grote Aula – see map 
>>> Wednesday 11 October 2017 – 20:30
>>> €18 

+++ Find out more about Meccore String Quartet on his webpage
+++ This concert on the wepage of Flanders Festival (online box office)

The Meccore String Quartet is one of the young Polish chamber music groups attracting the most votes. Active since 2007, its members are graduates of the Warsaw and Poznan Conservatories of Music, the holders of grants from various institutions, and have taken several master classes, notably at the Chapelle musicale Reine Elisabeth, as well as winning several music competitions. The ensemble is characterised by its refined and surprising interpretations, its delicate and vivid style, its playing style and its energy. The quartet does, of course, have a predilection for a relatively unknown Polish repertoire, which is, nevertheless, extremely rich in string quartets. Besides Szymanowski, the works of Penderecki, Lutoslawski and Górecki feature among their favoured composers.

Links

•  Festival van Vlaanderen: http://www.festival2021.be/