Sonus Cordis Quartet

Chess is far more than a mere game; it is a universal, timeless symbol of logic, strategy, and the shifting tides of social order. In this concert, the various layers of the game’s meaning are brought to life through the lens of the string quartet – both as an ensemble and a genre.

The evening opens with a collective work conceived by composer Máté Balogh. He invited a group of fellow composers to translate the character, movement, or form of a specific chess piece into music; the figures were assigned by mutual agreement based on each composer’s personal affinity.

The second half of the programme features a curated historical cross-section designed by Balogh and violinist Eszter Krulik, leader of the Sonus Cordis Quartet. They have selected movements from the classical quartet repertoire that evoke strong associations with particular chess pieces. The programme is rounded off by the intricately woven, concise Bagatelles for string quartet by Anton Webern.