Brooklyn Rider: Citizenship Notes

Brooklyn Rider is far from your classic string quartet. This fearless, boundary-pushing ensemble from New York operates at the intersection of tradition and reinvention, proving time and again that the string quartet is a living, breathing force of musical exploration. Whether you're drawn to the classical greats or thrive on contemporary twists, Brooklyn Rider is renowned for electrifying senses and powerful performances across the world.  

Returning to Melbourne Recital Centre after their critically acclaimed debut, Brooklyn Rider brings a daring program that spans centuries and genres, exploring what it means to be part of a community, a society, a world in flux. 

From the revolutionary strains of Haydn’s Op.20 No.5 - music that shattered conventions in its time - to the radical urgency of Matana Roberts’ borderlands..., a searing reflection on the US-Mexico border crisis, this program is both exhilarating and thought-provoking in equal measure. Gabriel Kahane’s American Studies brings a haunting, contemporary resonance, paving the way for Bob Dylan’s timeless protest anthem The Times They Are A-Changin’, arranged by the quartet’s own Colin Jacobsen. And in a triumphant finale, Beethoven’s Op.59 No.3 ‘Razumovsky’ surges with heroic, egalitarian energy, its breathtaking conclusion leaving no doubt as to why it remains one of the most exhilarating works in the chamber repertoire. 

For the adventurous listener, this is classical music at its most daring - vivid, urgent, and deeply relevant. For the classical traditionalist, this is a masterfully woven journey through the rich and evolving possibilities of the string quartet. No matter where you stand, Citizenship Notes will challenge, captivate, rally and inspire audiences from beginning to end.