AN ‘immensely colourful’ classical guitar group are set to perform at Carlisle Cathedral’s Fratry Hall next month.

Promising an evening of ‘eclectic and energising live music’ the setlist from Quartet Malamatina includes both classical and contemporary pieces from Luigi Boccherini, Bryan Johanson and Peter Maxwell Davies.

After being invited to perform at the 2021 UN Climate Conference, Tim Beattie, Ross Morris, Lenny Ranallo and Finlay Hay (Scotland) formed Quartet Malamatina while all four members were still studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

An ensemble lauded for its ‘immensely colourful, lyrical and expressive playing’ the quartet is due to embark on its first UK-wide tour.

The quartet have curated two programmes: elements, featuring music evoking nature, and cancion y danza, a series of songs and dances from around the world.

Thanks to the ‘generous’ support of Creative Scotland and the PRS Foundation, the quartet will premiere two new works by exciting composers Erin Thomson and Marco Galvani.

They will also be collaborating with Martyn Brabbins on his only work for guitar quartet in a performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Quartet Malamatina will be featured on BBC Radio’s ‘Classics Unwrapped’ on February 26.

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As an ensemble, they receive mentoring from Grammy Award-winning cellist David Watkin and have performed at the 2021 UN Climate Conference, St Giles’ Cathedral, Big Guitar Weekend Festival in Glasgow and RCS’s Fridays at One concert series.

These projects have led the quartet to work with some of the most exciting young filmmakers and composers in the UK, developing programmes that challenge conventions of genre classification and presentation.

As soloists, the quartet’s members have performed at the Queen's Hall in London, the Brussels International Guitar Festival, the Scottish National Gallery and Glyndebourne Opera.

The concert is one of many to be held at Carlisle Cathedral this year, cementing it as one of the cultural centres of the city.

Percussionist Steven Moore, the Elmore String Quartet, organist Ed Taylor and the Carlisle Cathedral Choir are all set to perform at the cathedral over the coming months.