Media Release

Wednesday, 30 June 2004

The Australian String Quartet's latest national tour will not only span the length and breadth of Australia - it will take in Prague and Vienna along the way!

The ASQ aims to warm the Australian winter by bringing rich European melodies - with music by Mozart, Beethoven and Dvorak - to towns and cities throughout Australia.

With 11 public performances in three weeks - beginning in Albany, Western Australia on July 16 and ending in regional Queensland - this is ASQ's longest and most far-reaching tour this year.

The ASQ, quartet in residence at the University of Adelaide's Elder School of Music, will perform in venues ranging from community centres to city concert halls, touring through WA before heading south to Launceston, north to Darwin, and across to Nambour, Queensland, as well as to the mainland State capitals.

The celebration of Dvorak's centenary continues with a flourish, with his fresh and unpretentious Quartet No. 10 in E Flat, based on Czech dance forms such as the furiant, from the village bands of the composer's youth.

Mozart's string quartet Adagio and Fugue is a compelling re-working of a piece he originally conceived for two pianos, and Beethoven's epic Opus 59 No. 3 String Quartet completes the program. A finely crafted theatrical piece, this third "Rasumovsky" Quartet builds to a stunning finale demanding the utmost in virtuosity and technical brilliance from each of the players.

Australian String Quartet - FUGUES & FURIANTS
Mozart Adagio and Fugue in C Minor, k546
Dvorak String Quartet No. 10 in E Flat, Opus 51
Beethoven String Quartet in C, Opus 59 No.3 ("Rasumovsky")

tour itinerary:

ALBANY
Fri 16 July 8pm, Albany Town Hall Theatre, 08 9841 1661 www.albanytownhall.com.au

GERALDTON
Sat 17 July 8pm, Queens Park Theatre, 08 9956 6622 www.geraldton.wa.gov.au/qpt

MERREDIN
Tues 20 July 8pm, Cummins Theatre, 08 9041 3295

PERTH
Wed 21 July 7pm, Perth Concert Hall, 9484 1133 www.bocsticketing.com.au
free wine tasting from 6pm, pre-concert talk at 6.10pm

ADELAIDE
Mon 26 July 7pm, Adelaide Town Hall, 131 246 www.bass.net.au
free wine-tasting from 6pm, pre-concert talk at 6.10pm

MELBOURNE
Tues 27 July 7pm, Collins Street Baptist Church, 1300 136 166 www.ticketmaster7.com

LAUNCESTON
Wed 28 July 7pm, QVMAG at Inveresk, 03 6334 3030

SYDNEY
Thurs 29 July 7pm, City Recital Hall Angel Place
free wine tasting from 6pm, pre-concert talk at 6.30pm
8256 2222 www.cityrecitalhall.com or 9266 4800 www.ticketek.com.au

DARWIN
Sat 31 July 8pm, Darwin Entertainment Centre 08 8980 3333 www.darwinentertainment.com.au

BRISBANE
Thurs 5 August 7pm, Conservatorium Theatre, 136 246 www.qtix.com.au
free wine tasting from 6pm, pre-concert talk at 6.10pm

NAMBOUR
Sat 7 August 8pm, Nambour Civic Centre, 07 5475 7777 www.mve.org.au

TICKETS: $15 - $42 (service fees apply)

The Australian Government is proud to be associated with this tour through the national performing arts touring program, Playing Australia, which gives Australians across the country the opportunity to see some of our best performing arts.