Four days after Remembrance Sunday and the day after Armistice Day, St Mary Magdalene Church will be illuminated by 200 candles for a concert created especially for Remembrance week.

In this extraordinary setting, Breathe Music presents a programme that journeys from the devastation of war towards stillness, hope and human connection.

At its heart is Shostakovich's intensely personal Eighth String Quartet. Written near Dresden in 1960 and dedicated "to the memory of the victims of fascism and war", it is filled with the composer's musical signature and echoes of his own life and work.

From the final silence of Shostakovich, selected movements from Bach's Goldberg Variations emerge in Dmitry Sitkovetsky's beautiful arrangement for string trio—offering a moment of clarity, reflection and calm.

Following the interval, Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah is heard on unaccompanied violin before the full quartet returns for Borodin's glorious Second String Quartet. Written as a gift of love to his wife, its warmth, lyricism and much-loved Nocturne carry the evening towards tenderness and consolation.

Surrounded by the flickering light of 200 candles, this will be a chance to pause, remember and experience some of the most powerful and beautiful music written for strings.

Programme

Dmitri Shostakovich

String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110

J. S. Bach

Selected movements from the Goldberg Variations, BWV 988

arranged for string trio by Dmitry Sitkovetsky

Interval

Leonard Cohen

Hallelujah for solo violin

arranged by Reena Esmail

Alexander Borodin

String Quartet No. 2 in D major

This concert is presented in collaboration with Ditcheat PCC, with grateful thanks to Barber's and Vine Wine Ltd for their generous sponsorship.

The Musicians

Joanne Green and Ian Watson – violins

Polly Wiltshire – viola

Harriet Wiltshire – cello

Guest violinist Ian Watson is a former Principal First Violin of the Hallé Orchestra. He previously held the position of Sub-Principal with Royal Northern Sinfonia and Second Violin of the acclaimed Dante Quartet. His career spans chamber, symphonic and chamber-orchestral repertoire, bringing a wealth of experience to this special Breathe Music performance.