John Cage String Quartet in Four Parts

Ludwig Van Beethoven String Quartet no. 14 Op.131

Jonathan Morton (violin) Clio Gould (violin) Oliver Wilson (viola) Clare O’Connell (cello)

What happens when music invites us not simply to hear, but to listen?

John Cage’s String Quartet in Four Parts is a work of remarkable stillness and clarity. Composed from gently unfolding melodies and spacious textures, it creates a world where every sound is given equal importance. Free from dramatic conflict or virtuosic display, the quartet encourages a heightened awareness of time, silence, and the act of listening itself, revealing beauty in simplicity and presence.

Beethoven’s String Quartet in C-sharp minor, Op. 131 is one of the most extraordinary works ever written. Its seven uninterrupted movements unfold as a continuous journey through tenderness, grief, wit, struggle, and transcendence, offering an unparalleled portrait of the human experience. Written in the final years of Beethoven’s life, the quartet defies convention while speaking with remarkable intimacy, balancing profound introspection with moments of radiant hope.

Together, Cage and Beethoven transform the concert hall into a space of deep listening. Beginning in quiet contemplation and culminating in one of the supreme achievements of the string quartet repertoire, this programme explores silence, humanity, and the enduring power of music to illuminate our inner lives.