Manchester Collective String quartet perform in the round at St George’s, bringing audiences and artists even closer together.

John Luther Adams Wind in High Places, II. Maclaren Summit – 2011 (4’)

Edmund Finnis String Quartet No. 1 ‘Aloysius’, IV. Hymn after Byrd – 2018 (4’)

Philip Glass String Quartet No. 2 ‘Company’ – 1983 (8’)

Kevin Volans String Quartet No. 2 ‘Huntering and Gathering’, 1. First Expedition – 1987 (10’)

Missy Mazzoli Death Valley Junction – 2010 (9’)

Andrea Tarrodi String Quartet No. 1, ‘Miroirs’ – 2010 (10’)

Philip Glass String Quartet No. 4 ‘Buczak’ – 1989 (21’)

Even in the darkest shadows, there is a flicker of light.

Philip Glass stands as a towering figure not just in minimalism but contemporary culture, having collaborated with everyone from Martin Scorsese to Aphex Twin. For the composer’s 90th anniversary, Manchester Collective celebrate life and art in all its fullness through a selection of rich, emotive music.

At the heart of this show are Philip Glass’s second and fourth string quartets. While ‘Company’ is filled with a quiet intensity and mysterious drama, ‘Buczak’ is a moving, bittersweet elegy for the artist of the same name.

Whether it’s in the throes of grief or on the edge of civilisation, we look for signs of life in the most desolate places. An ancient hymn calls for light in the depths of night. We ascend to windswept peaks with John Luther Adams before Missy Mazzoli transports us to a ghost town sustained by a one-woman show.

Approximate runtime: 80 minutes + interval. This concert is unreserved and seats are limited due to the concert being in the round.