DUO Ramón Jaffé (cello) & Monica Gutman (piano) Christian-Jewish encounters from classical music to tango in the Wittlich Synagogue Johannes Marmén | Violin Laia Valentin Braun | Violin Bryony Gibson-Cornish | Viola Sinéad O’Halloran | Cello

Three masterpieces of the string quartet – three stylistically different but impressively interconnected sound worlds characterise this concert. Mozart's ‘Dissonance Quartet’ surprises with a bold introduction whose harmonic audacity far exceeds its time. Béla Bartók's Second Quartet, composed during the First World War, explores emotions ranging from melancholy to rhythmic energy and resigned silence – a work of great emotional and structural depth. Debussy's only string quartet marks a turning point in 1893: with impressionistic colours and innovative form, it opens up new paths for modern music.

These works are interpreted by the Marmen Quartet – one of the most exciting young ensembles on the international chamber music scene. Founded in London in 2013, the British-Scandinavian quartet inspires with its technical brilliance, stylistic diversity and emotional expressiveness. The quartet gained international recognition by winning several major competitions, including first prize at the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition in 2019 and at the Banff International String Quartet Competition in the same year.