FQ Discover

Inside the music, interviews and demonstrations

  • Special thanks to Wilma Smith for this interview, and also to Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM for the generous and vital support of Wilma’s second violin ‘chair’.

    Featured music:

    Antonin Dvorak String Quartet No.13 in G major Op. 106, first movement

    Performed live by Flinders Quartet (Elizabeth Sellars, Wilma Smith, Helen Ireland and Zoe Knighton), May 2023

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners: Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, and City of Melbourne.

 
 

AUSTRALIAN COMPOSERS

  • Special thanks to Gordon Kerry for this interview, and to Siobhan Lenihan for supporting this commission.

    Featured music:

    Gordon Kerry String Quartet No. 5 "Bright Summer"

    Performed by Acacia Quartet (2019)

    Gordon Kerry String Quartet "Torquing Points"

    Performed by Melbourne String Quartet (1994)

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners: Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, City of Melbourne, and Australian Government through Creative Australia.

  • Special thanks to Maria Grenfell for this interview.

    Featured music: "Clockwerk" by Maria Grenfell, performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners: Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, City of Melbourne, and Australian Government through Creative Australia.

    Thank you to the members of FQ Syndicate #5 for supporting this commission:

    Nicholas Garnham

    Linda Herd and Canny Quine Foundation

    Sieglind D'Arcy

    Peter Kingsbury

    Sharon Nathani and Michael Cowen

    Dr Garry Joslin and Prof. Dimity Reed AM

    Find out more about Maria: https://www.mariagrenfell.com.au

  • Special thanks to Brenda Gifford for this interview.

    Audio of Brenda Gifford's "Bardju (Footprints)", arranged by Jessica Wells and performed by Ensemble Offspring.

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners: Creative Victoria and City of Melbourne.

    Thank you to the members of FQ Syndicate #4 for supporting FQ's Brenda Gifford commission:
    Linda Herd
    Sharon Nathani
    Julian Burnside AO KC
    Daniel Kirkham
    Sam and Elizabeth Golding
    Peter Kingsbury
    John and Sue Warburton
    Elise Callander
    Julie Kantor

    Find out more about Brenda: https://brendagiffordmusic.com

 

  • Special thanks to Anne Cawrse for this interview.

    Audio of "in spaces between" recorded by Flinders Quartet, engineered by Thomas Grubb.

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners: Creative Victoria and City of Melbourne

    Find out more about Anne http://www.annecawrse.com

  • A film by Agatha Yim, Polyphonic Pictures

    Vignettes:
    NATALIE NICOLAS “Blue” ^^
    NAOMI BROWN “Fractured Peace” ^
    CLAIRE HIGGINS “Remnant #133” *
    CLARE STRONG “Tribute to LvB” ^^^
    CLAIRE L. FARRELL “fugue state” #

    * Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from Richard Gubbins
    # Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from Dimity Reed and Garry Joslin
    ^ Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from FQ Syndicate #1
    ^^ Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from FQ Syndicate #2
    ^^^ Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from FQ Syndicate #3

    A big thank you to Katy Abbott, Richard Gubbins, Dimity Reed and Garry Joslin, and the supporters of our FQ Syndicates:

    FQ Syndicate #1
    Brad and Maggie Robinson
    Patricia Speck
    Daniel Kirkham
    Vivienne Reed

    FQ Syndicate #2
    Elizabeth and Sam Golding
    Helen Murdoch & Macedon Music
    Geoffrey Hayes
    Marion and Michael Webster

    FQ Syndicate #3
    Peter Kingsbury
    John and Sue Warburton
    Nicholas Garnham
    Mark Vendy
    Barry Jones AC and Rachel Faggetter

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners:

    Playking Foundation
    Besen Family Foundation
    Victorian Womens’ Trust
    Victorian Government through Creative Victoria

    FLINDERS QUARTET
    Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba • violin
    Wilma Smith • violin
    Helen Ireland • viola
    Zoe Knighton • cello

  • A film by Agatha Yim, Polyphonic Pictures

    NATALIE NICOLAS “Blue”
    Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from FQ Syndicate #2

    A big thank you to Katy Abbott and the supporters of our FQ Syndicate:

    FQ Syndicate #2
    Elizabeth and Sam Golding
    Helen Murdoch & Macedon Music
    Geoffrey Hayes
    Marion and Michael Webster

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners:

    Playking Foundation
    Besen Family Foundation
    Victorian Womens’ Trust
    Victorian Government through Creative Victoria

    FLINDERS QUARTET
    Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba • violin
    Wilma Smith • violin
    Helen Ireland • viola
    Zoe Knighton • cello

 

  • A film by Agatha Yim, Polyphonic Pictures

    CLAIRE L. FARRELL “fugue state”
    Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from Dimity Reed and Garry Joslin

    A big thank you to Katy Abbott, and Dimity Reed and Garry Joslin.

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners:

    Playking Foundation
    Besen Family Foundation
    Victorian Womens’ Trust
    Victorian Government through Creative Victoria

    FLINDERS QUARTET
    Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba • violin
    Wilma Smith • violin
    Helen Ireland • viola
    Zoe Knighton • cello

  • A film by Agatha Yim, Polyphonic Pictures

    CLARE STRONG “Tribute to LvB”
    Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from FQ Syndicate #3

    A big thank you to Katy Abbott, and the supporters of FQ Syndicate #3:

    FQ Syndicate #3
    Peter Kingsbury
    John and Sue Warburton
    Nicholas Garnham
    Mark Vendy
    Barry Jones AC and Rachel Faggetter

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners:

    Playking Foundation
    Besen Family Foundation
    Victorian Womens’ Trust
    Victorian Government through Creative Victoria

    FLINDERS QUARTET
    Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba • violin
    Wilma Smith • violin
    Helen Ireland • viola
    Zoe Knighton • cello

  • A film by Agatha Yim, Polyphonic Pictures

    CLAIRE HIGGINS “Remnant #133”
    Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from Richard Gubbins

    A big thank you to Katy Abbott and Richard Gubbins.

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners:

    Playking Foundation
    Besen Family Foundation
    Victorian Womens’ Trust
    Victorian Government through Creative Victoria

    FLINDERS QUARTET
    Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba • violin
    Wilma Smith • violin
    Helen Ireland • viola
    Zoe Knighton • cello

 

  • A film by Agatha Yim, Polyphonic Pictures

    NAOMI BROWN “Fractured Peace”
    Commissioned by Flinders Quartet with support from FQ Syndicate #1

    A big thank you to Katy Abbott, and the supporters of our inaugural FQ Syndicate:

    FQ Syndicate #1
    Brad and Maggie Robinson
    Patricia Speck
    Daniel Kirkham
    Vivienne Reed

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners:

    Playking Foundation
    Besen Family Foundation
    Victorian Womens’ Trust
    Victorian Government through Creative Victoria

    FLINDERS QUARTET
    Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba • violin
    Wilma Smith • violin
    Helen Ireland • viola
    Zoe Knighton • cello

  • Ahead of the May 2022 premiere performances of her new work "Splitting the Ambivalence", composer Katy Abbott chats with FQ.

    Special thanks to Katy Abbott for this interview, and to Kim Williams AM for supporting FQ's commission of this new work.

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners:

    Victorian Government through Creative Victoria
    Australia Council for the Arts
    Besen Family Foundation
    Victorian Womens' Trust

    Find out more about Katy http://www.katyabbott.com

  • Ahead of the May 2022 premiere performances of her new work "Hope. Fear. Anything", composer Melody Eötvös chats with FQ.

    Special thanks to Melody for this interview, and to John and Irene Garran for commissioning this new work and making the premiere performances possible.

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners:

    Victorian Government through Creative Victoria
    Australia Council for the Arts
    Besen Family Foundation
    Victorian Womens' Trust

    Find out more about Melody http://melodyeotvos.com

 

  • Special thanks to Ella Macens for this interview

    Performance video of "A Love Worth Fighting For" provided by Monash University Performing Arts Centre @monashpac

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners:

    City of Melbourne Arts Grants
    Victorian Womens' Trust
    Besen Family Foundation

    Find out more about Ella https://www.ellamacens.com

 
 

STRING QUARTET GIANTS

  • [NB: the recorded music commences at 00:25]

    DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH 1906-1975
    String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110 (composed 1960)
    I. Largo
    II. Allegro molto
    III. Allegretto
    IV. Largo
    V. Largo

    Artwork by Year 10 and 11 Mac.Robertson Girls' High School students.

    •••

    Audio engineering, editing and mastering • Thomas Grubb, Mano Musica

    Recorded 30 October 2023 in the Primrose Potter Salon at Melbourne Recital Centre

    FLINDERS QUARTET
    Cameron Hill • guest violin
    Wilma Smith • violin
    Helen Ireland • viola
    Zoe Knighton • cello

    •••

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners:

    Creative Victoria

    City of Melbourne

    Creative Australia

  • Flinders Quartet's Zoe Knighton and Beethoven expert David Larkin take an in-depth look at Beethoven's String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132.

  • Flinders Quartet's Zoe Knighton and the extraordinarily talented Richard Piper (actor/director/dramaturge) discuss the life and work of Béla Bartók, and the creative process behind bringing FQ and Piper’s upcoming project, “Bartók, My Father”, to life.

    This project was supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants.

 

  • Features excerpts of Elizabeth Maconchy's String Quartet No. 5 performed by Bingham String Quartet, and Maconchy's comic opera, "The Sofa". (Source: YouTube)

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners: Creative Victoria and Australia Council.

 

FQ MUSIC EDUCATION

  • A mini-documentary (by the amazing Agatha Yim, Polyphonic Pictures) on Flinders Quartet's work with Itet – John Noble’s Quartet Program: a string ensemble program founded by John that offers coaching, mentoring and performance opportunities to student and amateur string players in regional Victoria.

    A big thank you to John Noble, Bentleys Aged Care, and Dr Peter Kingsbury for his tireless support. Thanks also to Judith McCallum and the Ulumbarra Foundation for their support of the Itet Bendigo Quartet.

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners:
    Cybec Foundation
    The Robert Salzer Foundation
    Playking Foundation

    Filmed and edited by Agatha Yim, Polyphonic Pictures

    FLINDERS QUARTET
    Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba • violin
    Wilma Smith • violin
    Helen Ireland • viola
    Zoe Knighton • cello

    PIRULÍ STRING QUARTET
    Jasmine Milton • violin
    Haneulle Lovell • violin
    Sterling Rieck • viola
    Caleb Christian • cello

    ITET - JOHN NOBLE’S QUARTET PROGRAM BENDIGO STUDENTS
    Ellie Close • violin
    Lea Bursac • violin
    Lucy Huang • violin
    Hanley Rorke • bass

  • features

    DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH (1906-1975)
    String Quartet No. 3 Op. 73, movt 1 Allegretto

    String Quartet No. 4 Op. 83, movt 2 Andantino

    String Quartet No. 5 Op. 92, movt 1 Allegro non troppo

    String Quartet No. 3 Op. 73, movt 3 Allegro non troppo

    String Quartet No. 11 Op. 122, movt 3 Recitative: Adagio, movt 4 Etude: Allegro, movt 5 Humoresque: Allegro

    String Quartet No. 8 Op. 110, movt 2 Allegro molto

    Filmed August 2019 at Footscray High School by Agatha Yim, Polyphonic Pictures

    THIBAUD PAVLOVIC-HOBBA violin
    NICHOLAS WATERS violin
    HELEN IRELAND viola
    ZOE KNIGHTON cello
    with students from Footscray High School

    Special thanks to program partners Hamer Family Fund, Krystyna Campbell-Pretty, Mary Vallentine AO, Kim Williams AM, and Gandel Philanthropy

  • features

    LEE BRADSHAW (1977-)
    "Excuse me while I kiss the sky"     (composed 2021)

    Filmed December 2021 at Footscray High School by Agatha Yim, Polyphonic Pictures

    In 2019, Flinders Quartet began a residency with Footscray High School encouraging teenagers to experience and fall in love with the string quartet repertoire exploring the string quartets of Shostakovich. In 2021, FQ delved into Bartok with the students, creating art works, posters and this piece written by Lee Bradshaw which celebrates the fascination Jimi Hendrix had with the 6 quartets of Bela Bartok.

    THIBAUD PAVLOVIC-HOBBA violin
    WILMA SMITH violin
    HELEN IRELAND viola
    ZOE KNIGHTON cello
    FOOTSCRAY HIGH SCHOOL BAND Isaac, Archie, Tom, Sam, Rocco,

    LEE BRADSHAW producer/engineer
    PRODUCTION STUDENTS OF FOOTSCRAY HIGH SCHOOL producers/engineers
    PAUL DOOLEY Director of Music and supervisor of students
    NICOLAS COSTANZO Preparation of School Band

    Flinders Quartet is deeply grateful for the support of project partners:
    Betty Amsden Foundation
    Playking Foundation

  • Filmed August 2019 at Footscray High School by Agatha Yim, Polyphonic Pictures

    A little insight into our week-long Shostakovich residency at Footscray City College in August 2019.

    Interviews with:
    Zoe Knighton, Flinders Quartet cellist
    Paul Dooley, Head of Music at Footscray City College
    Dillon, year 10 drama student at Footscray City College
    Esin, year 10 drama student at Footscray City College

    Flinders Quartet:
    Thibaud Pavlovic-Hobba, violin
    Nicholas Waters, violin
    Helen Ireland, viola
    Zoe Knighton, cello

    Filmed and edited by Agatha Yim @ Polyphonic Pictures polyphonicpictures.com

    Filmed August 2019 at Footscray City College

    Thank you to the staff and students at Footscray City College, and especially Paul Dooley. Thank you to Lush Rash.

    Special thanks to program partners Hamer Family Fund, Krystyna Campbell-Pretty, Mary Vallentine AO, Kim Williams AM, and Gandel Philanthropy

A FOCUS ON MARGARET SUTHERLAND

  • For our latest FQ Discover video, Zoe chatted with Ben Opie ahead of our 2022 FQ Margaret Sutherland Festival. Ben was responsible for introducing FQ to these magnificent works and we are so pleased he did. He’s also a wonderful musician and human being to boot.

    Catch Ben’s performance of Margaret Sutherland’s “Serenade” for oboe and strings with FQ available for on-demand streaming from Monday 11 April, 7pm here on FQ Digital.

    Find out more about Ben: https://www.benopie.com.au

  • Flinders Quartet's Zoe Knighton and Margaret Sutherland expert Dr Jillian Graham discuss the life and work of the matriarch of 20th century Australian composition.

  • Zoe Knighton delves deep into Margaret Sutherland’s unique harmonic language to shed some light on how she crafted such an individual voice. It is our hope that Margaret Sutherland’s String Quartet No. 1 will begin to be played more regularly in Australia and overseas!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW