String quartet’s sunny outlook

In the last of three concerts given by members of the Hallé and friends, the Rossi Quartet will perform the extraordinary ‘Dissonance’ Quartet by Mozart at Spring Bank Arts on Sunday June 15, at 11am.

It is one of the most popular of Mozart’s Quartets perhaps because of the remarkable slow introduction, full of harmonic tension which is then relieved by some of the sunniest music Mozart wrote.

To follow, the Rossi Quartet will perform Ravel’s only String Quartet, composed in 1902 while he was still a student at the Paris Conservatoire. Submitted to the annual Conservatoire composition contest, the work was rejected by the panel of judges, and Ravel was (for the third and last time) expelled from the school.

The rest is history, and this glorious work has gone on to become a favourite with both performers and audiences.

The Rossi String Quartet formed in 2009 and is made up of present and former members of the Hallé Orchestra; Liz Rossi and John Purton on violins, and Julian Mottram on viola with Julie-Anne Manning on cello.

They have played regularly at music societies and clubs across the North West. The quartet also enjoy playing as a quartet for pop, rock and folk acts.

The June 15 performance will be the last of the season’s popular Sunday Coffee Concerts at Spring Bank Arts.

Tickets cost £12.50 and £11, and include coffee and home-made cakes which are served prior to the start of the concert. Advance booking is advised.

For more information and bookings, email spring [email protected] or call 01663 308202.