Saturday 19 July, 2025, 7:00pm
Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music
Boundary Road, Ooralea
The Orava Quartet — Australia’s only string quartet to record for the legendary Deutsche Grammophon — makes their highly anticipated debut at MCMF with a program that spans centuries of music, from the Renaissance to the modern day.
The concert opens with two stunning vocal-inspired works by Gesualdo and Josquin des Prez, setting the scene for an evening of music that carries echoes of the past. Then, we move into Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 1, a lively and expressive piece full of drama, warmth, and wit.
Polish composer Czarnecki’s String Quartet No. 2 "Spis" brings folk influences into the mix, leading into the night’s gripping finale — Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8. One of the most powerful works ever written for string quartet, it is filled with raw emotion, intensity, and haunting beauty.
This is chamber music at its most thrilling—passionate, thought-provoking, and deeply moving. Stay after the performance for a Q&A with the Orava Quartet, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look into their artistry.
GESUALDO, Carlo (1566—1613) – Moro Lasso
JOSQUIN DES PREZ (c. 1450—1521) – Mille regretz
BEETHOVEN, Ludwig van (1770—1827) – String Quartet No. 1 in F Major, Op. 18
CZARNECKI, Bartosz (b. 1958) – String Quartet No. 2 "Spis"
-Interval-
SHOSTAKOVICH, Dmitri (1906—1975) – String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110
Featuring the Orava Quartet;
Daniel Kowalik, Violin 1
David Dalseno, Violin 2
Thomas Chawner, Viola
Karol Kowalik, Cello
Please join the Orava Quartet for a Q&A after the performance in the foyer.