THE CONTEMPO Quartet have firmly established themselves as a Galway institution and one of Ireland's most popular classical groups, and as 2015 comes to a close they play two shows and have a new album.
The quartet - Bogdan Sofei (violin ), Ingrid Nicloa (violin ), Andreea Banciu (viola ), and Adrian Mantu (cello ) - play a lunchtime concert on Tuesday December 1 at 1.10pm in St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, where they will perform Bedrich Smetana's String Quartet No 1. Admission is free and early arrival is advised.
ConTempo has also recorded the album New Airs with Irish composer/producer Glen Austin, which features new arrangements of songs by U2, The Script, and Snow Patrol, as well as old Irish airs inspired by modern interpretations from Sinead O'Connor and Luke Kelly. It is available from iTunes, CD Baby, and HMV.
To formally celebrate its 20th anniversary, ConTempo play the Aula Maxima, NUIG, on Thursday November 26 at 8pm, accompanied by Emma Johnson (clarinet ) and Hugh Tinney (piano ) to perform Janacek's String Quartet No 2 ‘Intimate Letters’ - about a long friendship the composer had with a woman almost four decades younger than himself; Mozart's Clarinet Quintet in A K 581; and Schumann's Piano Quintet in E flat major Op 44.
Tickets are €20/16/6 full-time students and can be booked at Music for Galway (091 - 705962, www.musicforgalway.ie ) and Opus 2, High Street.
