Consone String Quartet

The first period instrument string quartet to be selected as BBC New Generation Artists, the Consone String Quartet are known for their honest and expressive interpretations of repertoire, notably from the Classical and Romantic eras. They perform at major venues throughout Europe and South America.

We formed our group with the aim of exploring the vast range of quartet repertoire from the Classical and Romantic eras. With this particular time frame in mind, we chose to use gut strings (two pure and two silver-wound) and commissioned a set of period bows by Luis Emilio Rodríguez Carrington. This equipment provides us with a wide palette of colours and articulations, and we love the velvety, but earthy blend that the strings create.

​

When learning a new score, we get hold of first or early editions of the piece, as well as parts marked up by players of the time. This not only gives us food for thought and discussion, but it shapes our understanding of the music and  gives us clues about what certain markings in the parts might have meant at the time. We feel that building a common feeling for this language contributes a great deal to our trust in one another, and to a freedom within our musical conversation.   

Agata Daraskaite - Violin

Magda Loth-Hill - Violin

Elista Bogdanova - Viola

George Ross - Cello

String Quartet in G major                                      Emilie Mayer

String Quartet in D major, KV575 Prussian          Mozart

String Quartet no 2 in A minor, Op 51                   Brahms