Interior of ANAM Quartetthaus Photo: John Gollings
Photo: Marco Borggreve
Ever gone to a chamber music concert in a large venue and wished things were just a little more intimate?
The ANAM Quartetthaus is a purpose-built, portable listening space for string quartets – complete with revolving stage – created by Ben Cobham. The audience sits two rows deep surrounding the central performance space.
In Melbourne this month, the Quartetthaus is hosting six string quartets from around the world in a collaboration between the Australian National Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music (London). And there's a New Zealand connection.
NZ-born Bryony Gibson-Cornish plays the viola in the Marmen Quartet, which is usually based in London.
She spoke with Bryan Crump about why the viola is the instrument for her, and what it's been like to perform 'in the round' at the Quartetthaus.
Along with repertoire from the UK and Australia, the quartet will also be performing the Australasian premiere of Salina Fisher's 'Heal'.
This commission by the Marmen Quartet was made possible by the Chamber Music New Zealand Trust with support from the Lyons family, in memory of luthier Ian Lyons.
ANAM Quartetthaus at Melbourne Museum
Wednesday 3 - Sunday 14 May 2023
