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Methera
Contemporary traditional music from a ground-breaking quartet
Methera is a unique ensemble: a string quartet with roots firmly planted in English traditional music. Their national tours, BBC Radio 3 broadcasts and collaborations have helped them establish a reputation as a scintillating live act, blazing a trail through the uncharted territory that lies between folk and chamber music.
Lucy Elkiss (cello), Emma Reid and Grace Smith (fiddles) and Miranda Rutter (viola) combine a deep knowledge of traditional music with a wide range of other influences and expertise and a deep sense of musical interaction. Newly composed pieces sit alongside timeless traditional material; their music is both sophisticated and earthy, groundbreaking and familiar, enchanting and thrilling – chamber folk at its best.
“Mesmerising performances” – Anthony Sargent CBE, founding Director of Sage Gateshead
“Seriously stylish playing that’s putting the sparkle back into the tradition” – Verity Sharp, BBC Radio 3 Late Junction
Reviews of Methera’s third album Vortex:
Songlines: “The invention and interplay throughout is breathtaking, and sets Methera beside the very best instrumental groups of the decade.”
fRoots: “Another gem of English instrumentals…Methera is to be celebrated in both folk and classical music worlds.”
EDS: “This is the best CD I’ve heard this year.”
FolkWords: “‘Vortex’ lives up to its name with spiralling, patterned waves of music. The result is chamber-folk at its best and a treat for the ears.”
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