Fancy getting up close to some of Australia’s top chamber musicians? Adelaide Festival Centre is currently presenting a short series called Live at the Quartet Bar, delivering chamber music in a relaxed, intimate setting in order to encourage a different kind of connection between the musicians and audience than in a concert hall setting. Sharon Grigoryan, the cellist with the Australian String Quartet, has curated the series, which began on November 12 with a performance by pianist Anna Goldsworthy and violinist Helen Ayres. On December 9, the ASQ will perform, followed by Sharon and Slava Grigoryan on December 16. Sharon Grigoryan spoke to Limelight.

Slava and Sharon Grigoryan. Photograph © Simon Shiff

What attracted you to curating Live at the Quartet Bar for the Adelaide Festival Centre?

Any concert that shows chamber music in a small, intimate and relaxed setting is one that I would love to be a part of. It’s what chamber music is all about.

How do the musicians feel about having the audience sitting up close in an intimate setting?

I can only speak for myself as a musician – it’s wonderful. With the audience so close, you can really...