Raz Club

The Razumovsky Quartet was formed in 2020 by four close friends, Ellie Fagg, Tom Norris, Dorothea Vogel and Orlando Jopling. During lockdown, they created an online concert series, The Raz Club, for people who enjoy great music, food, wine and the company of others. Ruth was part of the club, curating the evening, finding the venues, writing the accompanying tasting and recipe notes and helping with the filming.

Each evening was recorded and filmed in an unusual London venue. Concert goers were given recipe suggestions for a meal to accompany the music, shared here. Wine writer Nina Caplan then paired wine with the music and food. Her Raz Club case of wine was available from an independent wine merchant.

On the night, the quartet introduced the music with the help of the brilliant musicologist Bill Carslake, and often a special guest. Nina talked about the wine. The film that was recorded a few days previously was streamed and the audience enjoyed chatting with everyone afterwards on Zoom.

Raz Club season II 2021 – 2022

RAZ CLUB I November 2020
Bartók’s first string quartet, filmed in the Hungarian Cultural Centre in central London.

RAZ CLUB II January 2021
Brahms’ A minor quartet, filmed in Pear Tree House in South London.

RAZ CLUB III February 2021
Britten’s second quartet in C major, filmed using Neumann KM84i microphones in the Anise Workshop, a newly converted 19th century chapel and 1960s warehouse complex that has been turned into an art gallery. We were joined by special guest Dr Lucy Walker from Britten Pears Arts.

RAZ CLUB IV March 2021
Smetana Quartet no. 1 ‘From my life’, filmed in in the Chain Store at Trinity Buoy Wharf, London.

We were joined by Lucy Lovick and Miss Melinda who taught us how to dance the polka, and also by the curator of Longplayer Sarah Davies, who talked about the amazing installation at Trinity Buoy Wharf.

RAZ CLUB V April 2021
Ravel’s quartet, filmed in Bermondsey Project Space, an art gallery housed in a former paper factory.

RAZ CLUB VI July 2021
Beethoven Quartet in A minor Op 132, filmed in the Normansfield Theatre in Teddington, a truly breathtaking hidden gem.