This is the sixth concert of the Oxford Chamber Music Society [https://oxfordchambermusic.org]'s 2025-2026 season. Click here [https://oxfordchambermusic.org/coming-season/preview-of-season-2025-2026/] for details of the full season. For todaysconcert theQuatuor Modiglianimake a return visit to Oxford following their sell-out concert at the Sheldonian in 2023. Founded in 2003, they are recognised as one of todays most sought-after quartets, featuring regularly in prominent international series and on the worlds most prestigious stages. In addition to annual tours in the United States and in Asia, their numerous European tours have brought them to the Wigmore Hall, Paris Philharmonie, Berlin Philharmonie, Vienna Konzerthaus, Saint-Petersburg Philharmonia and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. They have established a remarkable reputation for the quality of their musicianship in performance, gaining many plaudits. A review in Sddeutsche Zeitung places them as One of todays best quartets in the world...Balance, transparency, symphonic comprehension, confident style, their performance reached a very high and inspiring level . The quartet has also released 15 recordings, many of which have received international critical acclaim. But, at the heart of the quartets activities is their encouragement of younger performers through masterclasses and workshops, and their exploration of contemporary music. In the 100th anniversary of the birth of Gyrgy Kurtg the quartet will play two of his compositions for string quartet. The vivid 12 Microludes are complete works in miniature, exploring a variety of individual and ensemble techniques. Aus der ferne III is a concise piece of music, pared back to its essentials. Both reward concentration to experience the richness of sounds. The last quartet that Haydn completed, the Op.77 No.2, illustrates his mastery of the form in its effortless lyricism and verve. The concert concludes with the intense and dramatic Brahms Op.51 No.1 quartet. This will be an afternoon of sparkling chamber music, much to be anticipated. (Please Note: This is one of our occasional premium concerts for which the price of an individual ticket is 30.) Amaury Coeytaux (violin), Loc Rio (violin), Laurent Marfaing (viola), Franois Kieffer (cello) Through the support of generous sponsors, the Modigliani Quartet has the privilege of playing four magnificent Italian instruments. Amaury Coeytaux plays a 1715 violin by Antonio Stradivarius "Prince Lopold" Loc Rio plays a 1780 violin by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, Laurent Marfaing plays a 1660 viola by Luigi Mariani, Franois Kieffer plays a 1706 cello by Matteo Goffriller. Photocredit Jrome Bonnet Programme Gyrgy Kurtg - 12 Microludes for String Quartet, Op.13, Hommage Andrs Mihly Haydn - String Quartet in F major, Op.77, No.2 Gyrgy Kurtg Aus der ferne III (From afar) for String Quartet ------ interval ------ Brahms - String Quartet No.1 in C minor, Op.51, No.1