The Vanbrugh Quartet in Ireland: A Survey of Concert Programmes, Recordings and Collaborations, 1986-2017

This paper considers the career of one of Ireland’s most renowned chamber ensembles. The Vanbrugh Quartet arrived in Ireland over thirty years ago in 1986 as RTÉ’s quartet in residence. Since then, the Quartet has sustained an extensive career in performance, recording and music education, both within Ireland and internationally. The National Concert Hall 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented in recognition of the Vanbrugh Quartet’s significant contribution to chamber music performance in Ireland.

This paper will focus specifically on the Vanbrugh Quartet’s concert programming within Ireland. Particular attention will be paid to the connection with Cork city and county, including long-standing associations with the West Cork Chamber Music Festival and University College Cork. The Quartet has pursued a strong partnership approach to programming, collaborating with many composers, established and emerging musicians and ensembles, other art forms, and a wide range of events, festivals and institutions. The ensemble’s commercial and broadcasting recording profile will also be evaluated.

The paper will conclude with reference to the recently completed three-year residency at the National Concert Hall in association with DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama. Between 2014 and 2017, the Vanbrugh Quartet presented six concert series exploring a wide range of chamber music, including ‘Scoring History’ curated by composer Ian Wilson, a Haydn and Schubert Series, Mozart and Brahms Chamber Music, the complete cycle of Beethoven String Quartets, Chamber Music of Ireland 1916-2016 and a Russian Season.