When Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, Sergei Prokofiev was transferred to the Caucasus with other artists. After getting to know the folk music there, Prokofiev wrote: ‘The combination of unknown oriental folklore with the classical string quartet must yield interesting results.’ The proof is in his Second String Quartet, a dazzling show of Kabardic dance themes. The Maxwell Quartet enriches the program with a brand new work by the Jamaican-British Eleanor Alberga.

In the Selected by series, contrasts and connections resound; the musical language of different composers scrapes past each other or fits together wonderfully. In one hour, you will hear the string quartet repertoire across the board: all times, styles, sounds and colors.

*Co-commission with Dublin International Chamber Music Festival and Maxwell Quartet Music