Esprit Submergé: French string quartet Page Blanche give the first UK performances of Luke Styles' new string quartet

Page Blanche is a string quartet made up of musicians from the Orchestre de Paris, but with a twist they are violin, viola, cello and double bass (Joseph André, Flore-Anne Brosseau, Paul-Marie Kuzma, Ulysse Vigreux). In 2024 they commissioned a new string quartet from British / Australian composer Luke Styles, Esprit Submergé, which they premiered at performances in France last year. 

Now, the work gets its first UK performances as Page Blanche bring their Esprit Submergé programme to  the Deal Music & Arts Festival (of which Luke Styles is the artistic director) on 5 July 2025 and the Insitut français in London on 8 July 2025. Their programme will range from Debussy, Ravel, Bach and Poulenc to arrangements of works by legendary jazz pianist Bill Evan alongside Styles' new piece.

Luke Styles says this about his piece, 'The work is in 3 movements with two Intermezzi (which give a jazz derived pallet cleanser connecting to the rest of the concert programme where the music of Bill Evans is a big feature). It delves deep into the lower sororities of this group of instruments, drawing out rich melodies, harmonies and driving rhythms.'

I chatted to Luke Styles back in 2021 when his opera Awakening Shadow, based on Britten's five canticles, was premiered at the Cheltenham Music Festival, see my interview 'Exploring Big Themes'.

Further information from the Deal Music & Arts website, and the Institut français website.