Entertainment: 8-25 Year olds go free at Brighton Dome

The Elias String Quartet lived up to my high expectations last month, so I’m really looking forward to the next Sunday morning chamber music concert, this time featuring the Heath Quartet. Ages 8-25 can go for free as part of the Cavatina scheme, simply head to the Dome’s ticket office on 29 New Road to arrange tickets.
Both myself and reviewer Andrew Connal have enthused about the Heath Quartet before in these pages, with Andrew praising the “beautifully sustained stratospheric high notes” from first violinist Oliver Heath, as well as highlighting their spontaneity and intimate rapport.

Mozart’s Adagio and Fugue in C minor K.546 is an all-over-the-place wonder for the quartet to tackle (and the audience to try and wrap its head around). The sharp piece is also a lovely opening jolt to the senses in the programme.
Ravel’s only string quartet (in F) is a real beauty, prompting Debussy to exclaim: “In the name of the gods of Music… do not touch a note of what you have written.” The long opening section of smooth chords in fellow Romantic composer Tchaikovsky’s String Quartet No.1 are gorgeous and inviting, reminding me of Mendelssohn’s beautiful melodies, and with some more dangerous flourishes thrown in to spice things up.
The whole programme is intoxicating stuff for a Sunday morning, so pop along, meet a friend, buy a nice drink or food treat, and enjoy some sublime music.
Heath Quartet, Corn Exchange, Brighton Dome, Sunday 27 March,11am, £18.50, Ages 8-25 free, www.brightondome.org