In 1972 four Yorkshire schoolkids aged between 10 and 12 decided they wanted to form a string quartet. They were so keen on the then relatively obscure music of Dmitri Shostakovich that they wrote out the parts themselves from radio broadcasts.

Within two years they were winning national competitions and performing some of the quartets to a packed out Royal Albert Hall in London.

Now, 50 years later and after three postponements due to COVID, they are back in Australia – their “favourite place” – to celebrate Sydney Opera House’s golden anniversary with three days of music by Bach, Schubert and Britten in the informality of the Utzon Room. Of the original four only two remain – second violinist Ian Belton and cellist Jacqueline Thomas.

Brodsky Quartet in the Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House. Photo © Cassandra Hannagan

Last time they were here, in 2019, they were introducing their new lead violin, Gina McCormick, formerly of the Sorrell and Maggini quartets, but sadly she left the group in 2021 to help care for her husband who has motor neurone disease.

So this tour is the unveiling of a yet another leader in Krysia...