ON Friday, November 21, at 7.30pm, a celebrated Scottish piano quartet performed in Melrose Parish Church Hall.

Formed in 2004 by pianist John Thwaites and three of the UK’s most renowned chamber musicians, the Primrose Quartet is named after the great Scottish violist, William Primrose, who himself played in the Festival Piano Quartet.

The group was lauded by The Herald as displaying 'Sheer musicianship all the way from strong, confident players, and multiple delights for listeners.” The Quartet has toured throughout the UK and Denmark, and in 2009 commissioned 'Burns Air’ to celebrate Robert Burns 250th anniversary for which a number of composers wrote variations on a Burns melody. John Thwaites is well known both as a soloist and a member of chamber ensembles.

Violinist, Susanne Stanzeleit, has received rave reviews plus a Gramophone Award for her recordings, whilst violist, Robin Ireland, specializes in unaccompanied Bach, of which he has made several recordings. Cellist, Andrew Fuller, Associate Principal with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for several years, has appeared in festivals around the world and is a guest player with other chamber groups as well.

The programme starts with Mozart’s Piano Quartet in G minor, the composer’s first major work for the genre, followed by the Piano Quartet in A major by the French Romantic composer, Chausson, who tragically died young in a bicycle accident. The concert concludes with Dvorak’s wonderful Quartet in E flat major, a prime example of the mature composer’s originality in the Classical form. Tickets at the door for non-members of Melrose Music Society: £12. Accompanied children free.