Review: Ruisi Quartet, King's Lynn Festival, King's Lynn Town Town Hall

One of the pleasures of the King’s Lynn Festival Coffee Concerts is the opportunity they give to hear enthusiastic and talented young musicians perform at the beginning of their careers.

At the recent Coffee Concert given by the Ruisi Quartet we were able to hear not only this youthful quartet interpret string quartets by Haydn and Mendelssohn, with vigour and precision, but also hear a work composed earlier this year by the very young composer Jacob Fitzgerald entitled: Magpie, and inspired by the magpie bird as observed by the composer cycling through Cambridge.

Jacob began composing when he was a chorister at Jesus College Chapel Choir, Cambridge, where he later became head chorister. He shortly after gained a place at Aldeburgh Young Musicians to study composition and violin.

In September Jacob takes up a scholarship place at Chethams School of Music where he will study composition with Dr.Jeremy Pike and violin with Benedict Holland.

His piece, of short duration, captured for me the many facets of the magpie, a bird he feels is under-appreciated. Jacob is certainly a young composer to look out for in the future.

The Ruisi Quartet was formed in 2013 and is based in London. They have performed widely and broadcast on BBC Radio 3. They gave sensitive performances of Haydn’s Quartet in F Minor , No.5, Op.20 and Mendelssohn’s Quartet in A Major/A Minor, Op.13, bringing out the passionate qualities of the Mendelssohn with rich tone, splendidly!

Later, the Quartet: Alessandro Ruisi, Luba Tunnicliffe, Oliver Cave and Max Ruisi gave a short free ‘Pop-Up’ recital at the King’s Lynn Library; engaging pieces by Purcell and Stravinsky were performed, and an audience of over forty attended this excellent extra event!

Andy Tyler.