Revolutionary Drawing Room

The Revolutionary Drawing Room is a baroque string quartet well known to Farnham music lovers. It is almost a home grown music ensemble because the leader is the renowned baroque violinist and TBS Musical Director, Adrian Butterfield, originally a Farnham resident.

On 22 February, a large audience turned out on a very cold night to hear an interesting and satisfying programme of three string quartets, by three quite different composers, at Farnham Methodist Church.

Joseph Haydn has often been called the Father of the String Quartet, so opening with his C Major Opus 64 was appropriate and much enjoyed. Not the most demanding music for players or listeners, but an excellent musical warming up.

Alessandro Rolla was the second composer to feature and the audience was grateful to viola player Rachel Stott for giving some background on this unfamiliar musician. The Quartet in D Major was a very demanding piece with themes and variations being passed between the four musicians. The four professional musicians did not have to rise to the challenge of playing this difficult piece, it was already well inside their compass and was performed with great panache.

Schubert’s Rosamunde Quartet (No 13 in A Minor) contains a tune in the second movement that is borrowed from other pieces by the composer. For many, this quartet was probably the choice piece of the evening and was greatly appreciated as the climax of an excellent evening of music.

Ian Sargeant

Revolutionary Drawing Room website