Women of the World Series 2014: Benyounes Quartet

Equator's Women of the World series presents music from around the world with a mix of Brazilian, Jewish, Indian, Cape Verdean, Bulgarian, African, jazz, French and Czech classical composers and musicians.

The Benyounes Quartet presents a striking programme featuring two defining string quartets of the early 20th century alongside neglected works by women composers who were distinctive musical voices of their time. The Czech composer Viteslava Kapralova had a colourful life – a prodigious pianist, composer and conductor, she had a infamous affair with Martinu and conducted at the BBC Proms before her untimely death at the age of 25 in 1940.

Germaine Tailleferre, the only female member of 'Les Six', was greatly influenced by Ravel, her close friend and mentor. Ravel's sensual and vibrant masterpiece contrasts Janacek's 'The Kreutzer Sonata', a response to Tolstoy’s novella which explores the darker nature of love and relationships.

'The polish of the Benyounes Quartet was new... they already seem seasoned veterans with their tight ensemble and confident projecton.' The Times

Janáček String Quartet No. 1 Kreutzer Sonata
Viteslava Kapralova String Quartet, Op. 8
Germaine Tailleferre String Quartet
Ravel String Quartet in F

Zara Benyounes violin
Emily Holland violin
Tetsuumi Nagata viola
Kim Vaughan cello