Chamber music series: Ficino Quartet by Golijov, Shostakovich, Brahms, McDonagh, Od (2023/2023), National Concert Hall (NCH), Dublin, Ireland

Osvaldo Golijov Tenebrae [2000] Ailbhe McDonagh Quartet No.2 'The Lore Quartet' † [2023] Shostakovich Quartet No.7 [1960] Brahms Quartet in A minor Op.51/2 † Commissioned by the National String Quartet Foundation with funds from the Arts Council of Ireland Cellist-composer Ailbhe McDonagh presents her newly commissioned second string quartet as part of this concert by the Ficino Quartet. Osvaldo Golijov’s hauntingly beautiful Tenebrae reflects both the brutality of human conflict and the parallel perspective of the earth’s serene progress through space. Shostakovich’s short and enigmatic seventh quartet was dedicated to his first wife who had died six years earlier and the concert ends with Brahms’ glorious masterpiece, his A minor quartet Op.51 No.2