Publicity
Biography
Praised for their “immaculate precision and spirit” (The Strad) and “cultured tone” (Arts Desk), the Solem Quartet has established itself as one of the most innovative and adventurous quartets of its generation. A 2020 awardee of the Jerwood Arts Live Work Fund, one of 33 artists selected from more than 1200 applicants, the Solem Quartet takes its place amongst some of the UK’s brightest artistic voices, with award recipients spread across practices including music, theatre, opera, circus, dance, live art and performance. read more…
If you would like to download our biography or publicity image(s), please visit this page.
You may also like to read articles about us in The Strad
Programmes & Planning
New Impressions
Featuring music by the Boulanger sisters, Edmund Finnis and Debussy. Edmund Finnis’ Third Quartet Devotions was written for the Solem Quartet in 2022, and recorded on their second album Painted Light; Finnis’ musical language is soulful, delicate and sparing. His music seems to evoke silken textures and pastel shades – a description which could also be used to describe Debussy’s music. Debussy’s famous Quartet in G minor is a technicolour masterpiece, ranging from rich brooding tones to bright incandescent hues. The Boulanger sisters, Nadia and Lili, were huge figures in the French musical landscape in the early 20th century and the influence of Debussy’s harmonic language is clear in their compositional writing.
Steve Reich Kate Bush
Two giant musical voices of the late twentieth century meet in this relaxed concert. The Solem Quartet perform Steve Reich’s iconic Different Trains, and are joined by celebrated vocalist Alice Zawadzki for songs by Kate Bush, newly arranged for string quartet and voice by William Newell.
Towards Silence
Music which asks us to contemplate, or perhaps mourn Earth’s current condition, but also reminds us of its natural aural beauty. Featuring a wide selection of music from Hildegard von Bingen to Meredith Monk and Max Richter.
Stringsongs
In 2025/26 the Solem Quartet continue to champion contemporary music, performing new work by leading British composers, while also celebrating American music past and present as the US marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence. Music by Dvořák, Meredith Monk, Ryan Latimer and William Grant Still.
Painted Light our latest CD released with Delphian, October 2023
Henriëtte Bosmans: String Quartet
Lili Boulanger, arr. William Newell: Nocturne
Edmund Finnis: String Quartet no. 3, Devotions
Joni Mitchell, arr. W. Newell: Both Sides Now
Camden Reeves: Quartet no. 5, Blue Windows
Ayanna Witter-Johnson: Earth
“Solem Quartet’s playing is sensitive, wonderfully blended, incisive where needed, but above all powerfully communicative”
Europa disc review
Discover more, including further reviews:
Delphian Records, DCD34308
The Four Quarters released with Orchid Classics, September 2021
“immaculate precision and spirit”
David Kettle, The Strad review
“a collagist album of constant compulsion”
4.5 stars, Frontrunners for New Talent 2021, Norman Lebrecht, The Critic review
“beautifully executed”
4 stars, Rebecca Franks, Limelight Magazine review
Videos
Quartet no. 15, op. 132 i. Assai sostenuto – Allegro, Beethoven
‘Days’ from The Four Quarters, Thomas Adès
And Dream of Sheep, Kate Bush arr. William Newell
Discover more about the disc
Listen to The Four Quarters in full
Gramophone online feature
Recent projects
Beethoven Bartók Now
Beethoven Bartók Now brings together the late quartets of Beethoven and the quartets of Béla Bartók uniquely reimagined with music from composers of today.
Watch our live performance of BBN: Night Music, featuring Beethoven’s op. 130, Bartók’s Quartet no. 5, and a new work, tuóretu, from British composer Aaron Parker.
Live recording from Wimbledon International Music Festival 2020
Watch more videos here.
Further press quotes
“…especially when played with as much cultured tone as the Solems gave [the slow movement of Haydn’s E flat Quartet, Op. 76 No. 6]”
The Arts Desk, David Nice
“brilliant and intense young group of musicians”
Judith Weir blog
“… it was the Solem Quartet’s strong emotional connection to [the] music which really shone through”
The Yorkshire Times, Elaine Annable
“heartfelt brio and winningly understated virtuosity”
Scunthorpe Concert Society, Clive Davies
Audience feedback
Watch audience reaction to our first Beethoven Bartók Now concert:
Please feel free to embed any of the above material in your website.
The Solem Quartet are represented by Tashmina Artists. For bookings and enquiries, please contact their Manager Sally Richardson.
sally@tashmina.co.uk
+44 (0) 20 7976 5041