On 7 October, the Sacconi Quartet became the first professional instrumental ensemble to perform in The Space as part of the arts programme.                                            

And what a wonderful occasion this was, too. Featuring Hannah Dawson OS, and Robin Ashwell, currently on the staff at Sevenoaks School, the quartet first delighted us with the variations on the Czech melody, St Wenceslas, a moody, dark piece, with beautiful post-romantic harmonies. Balancing this was the jaunty A major quartet, op 18 by Beethoven. This was Beethoven at his most classical and all the subtle nuances of the 18th century early quartet style were brought out with appropriate flair and panache.

However, the jewel in their crown was the charming quartet in A major by Alexander Borodin. The Sacconi players’ lyrical persuasiveness was well matched to this wonderful work and all the famous melodies that we know so well were given poise and colour by this most gifted of emerging British string quartets. A delightful evening was rounded off in style with the finale from Beethoven’s C major quartet op 59; an exhilarating performance to match an exquisite evening.