String quartet swaps half its players
NewsThe Doric String Quartet, on the road since 1998, has replaced founder-vioinist Alex Redington and violist Hélène Clément with the merest whisper of a social media post.
They say: We are thrilled to welcome violinist Maia Cabeza and violist Emma Wernig to the Doric String Quartet at this very exciting stage in the group’s journey. We couldn’t be happier to embark on this new musical chapter with these two wonderful musicians!
We would like to extend our deepest thanks and love to Alex and Hélène and know that they will always be part of the Doric family.
That’s quite an upheaval.
The cellist founded the Doric before the new violist was even born.
Cellists are indeed the clever ones.
As Moshe Zlabszly used to say in rehearsals: Zer’s a reason why ze low C of ze cello and ze high E of ze violin are not just in tune—zey must squeeze ze fifths.
I know that this is an amicable split and people want different things in life after many years of the same job but I’m so sad about this news. The Dorics have been one of the greatest quartets internationally over the last decade and Alex Redington is irreplaceable IMO
Best of luck to the new lot but this is a different quartet now
Very exciting! The Doric’s have always had great musicians, this is going to be good.
It’s unusual for two members of a string quartet to depart at the same time. I suspect that there is more to their decision that we do not know. Internal dissension concerning the future direction of the quartet? This leaves cellist John Myerscough as the only original member of the group.
As Helene wrote on social media it’s nothing more sinister than two players wanting to do something different with their lives after a long time of quartet playing, John and Ying decided to continue. It’s just sad as Alex is a truly world class player and Maia is a good one.
I seem to recall the Dorics have been going for a long time, starting as a student ensemble at the Pro Corda summer schools before establishing a professional identity.
But this isn’t the first personnel change.
They have a particular sound (more emphasis on inner parts, as I hear it) which I hope they will maintain, because it does give a particular character to their interpretations.
As the old joke goes,
“Established string quartet seeks two violinists and a cellist”
It’s like the genuine Abraham Lincoln axe in the museum.
They had to replace the handle once and, later, they had to replace the blade, but other than that it’s the same axe Abe used.
Welcome always to WMS and Bath