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ARTISTS

THE AUSTRALIAN HAYDN ENSEMBLE

SKYE MCINTOSH - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & VIOLIN

SIMONE SLATTERY - VIOLIN

JAMES ECCLES - VIOLA

JAMES BUSH - CELLO

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The subject of dreams has long occupied the imagination of composers, poets, and artists throughout history. AHE explores this subject with an intriguing collection of works including Haydn’s Dream Quartet, Bach’s Goldberg Variations and Beethoven’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s Tomb Scene from Romeo and Juliet.

Haydn’s beautiful string quartet Op. 50 No. 5, The Dream, takes its nickname from the undulating chords accompanying a rhapsodic violin line and the dissonances providing a lulling effect in its serene ‘poco adagio’ second movement.

Bach's famous Goldberg Variations, written at the request of Count Kaiserling for Goldberg to play to him during his many sleepless nights to lull him into a state of slumber, are some of his most listened-to works. The original variations were written for harpsichord. In this concert, AHE presents a newly commissioned arrangement for string quartet.

AHE also presents Beethoven’s magnificent string quartet Op. 18 No. 1. The slow movement of this work is thought to have been inspired by the tragic Tomb Scene of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, where Romeo, finding Juliet asleep, believes her to be dead and thus takes his own life in vain.   

LISTEN TO THE PROGRAM: