Nicholas de Carlo’ score, performed live by the acclaimed Modulus Quartet, was inspired by Yuri Gagarin’s astonishing inaugural space voyage in 1961. Lighting, projected film and animation create a truly immersive sound and vision experience which received five-star reviews at recent sell out performances in the UK and Berlin.

Gagarin Quartets is an acclaimed sight and sound project exploring humanity’s first journey into space, created by composer Nicholas de Carlo. It comprises an original score for string quartet, performed live by the Modulus Quartet, and lighting, curated film and original animations by Jonny Godard and Julian Bigg. Like Gagarin’s flight, the performance lasts 108 minutes.

‘I wanted to imagine’ writes de Carlo ‘what those 108 minutes were like on a purely human scale, to try to communicate or illuminate the sheer dread, wonder and beauty of being the first human to leave the Earth, and to return.’

Modulus Quartet specialises in performing original quartet repertoire written in close collaboration with a number of international composers. The quartet explores new ways of presenting music, performing in unusual venues and incorporating visual arts and multimedia technology.

The Hailsham Pavilion, with its beautifully restored interior reminiscent of the ‘Golden Age’ of cinema, made a perfect setting for this unique audio-visual experience.

“Unlike anything else I’ve experienced”

“Mesmerising, thought-provoking and spiritually uplifting”

“An utterly captivating performance”

Here is the link to the interview Simon Herbert from Hailsham FM had with Nicholas de Carlo: