To open this lunchtime recital by our resident ensemble, the Solem Quartet gives the premiere performance of Amy Bryce’s Mimic, commissioned for them by the Royal Philharmonic Society. Amy was selected for a place on the 2023 RPS Composers programme, which culminated in writing this exciting new work for the Solems.

The Boulanger sisters, Nadia and Lili, were huge figures in the French musical landscape in the early 20th century and the influence of Debussy’s harmonic language is clear in their writing. Lili’s life was cut tragically short at the age of 24, after which Nadia focused on a teaching career (later becoming one of the most influential musical pedagogues of the twentieth century). Neither sister wrote a work for string quartet, so members of the Solem Quartet have arranged their Three Pieces and Two Pieces respectively for string quartet. In today’s concert you will hear Nadia’s Three Pieces for cello and piano, arranged for string quartet by Amy Tress.

The Solem Quartet close with Debussy’s famous Quartet in G minor: a technicolour masterpiece, ranging from rich brooding tones to bright incandescent hues.

Part of the Lunchtime Concert Series.

(Please note, Mimic was previously titled Public Speaking in the season brochure.)