Two of New York’s finest contemporary string quartets have been showcased in the up-close Utzon Music series at Sydney Opera House in rapid succession, giving local music lovers a fascinating insight into the current culture of the “city that never sleeps”.

Last month, Brooklyn Rider showed why they have been dubbed a “rock star” ensemble with their Sydney Opera House debut recital in the Utzon Room. This week it was the turn of the JACK Quartet, who since they were founded in 2005 have been pushing the boundaries and presenting new works.

The GRAMMY-nominated foursome – violinists Christopher Otto and Austin Wulliman, violist John Pickford Richards and cellist Jay Campbell – lived up to their promise of “rewriting history, re-tuning our instruments, and playfully thumbing our noses at that great quartet tradition” in a programme of five works, culminating in the Australian premier of a 30-minute piece String Creatures written for them by Perth-born, Sydney-based composer Liza Lim.

JACK Quartet, Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House. Photo © Cassandra Hannagan

True to the vision of “rewriting history” the first half included arrangements of works from the Renaissance period, alongside pieces by contemporary US...