MUSIC in Peebles new season of concerts opens with the young and talented Gildas Quartet at the town’s Eastgate Theatre on Friday, October 3.

Talent they have in plenty. The quartet were winners of the prestigious Tunnell Trust Award for Young Musicians in 2012/13, which led to a Scottish tour.

Since then, the quartet has performed widely across the UK and Europe, including at many festivals and at leading venues including Wigmore Hall, the Purcell Room and on BBC Radio 3. The Times has referred to them as “... the gifted Gildas String Quartet”.

Autumn with its mists and mellow fruits can be a colourful time but also a harbinger of dark nights and winter. What better way to approach autumn than to come and enjoy this concert in the intimacy of the Eastgate Theatre.

Familiar composers open and close the concert. First comes Mozart with one of his final set of three quartets, together known as the ‘Prussian’ quartets. The programme ends with Grieg and his neglected first (and only completed) quartet, a characteristically rich, lyrical work noted for the almost orchestral quality of its sound.

In between is a piece likely to be less familiar, but no less rewarding, ‘Arcadiana’ written in 1994 by British composer Thomas Adès. This suite for string quartet depicts the mythical idyll of Arcadia over the course of its seven movements, one of which has been likened to the famous ‘Nimrod’ from Elgar’s Enigma Variations. Starting at 6.30pm, a bonus is a preconcert talk on ‘Arcadiana’ a subject the quartet are passionate about.

There is still time to join Music in Peebles and get the best value for your concert-going. Membership gives entry to all seven concerts and costs £60, saving £38 over the season compared with single ticket prices. You also get other benefits including regular newsletters and priority booking for next season.

So do join us Friday, October 3, for the pre-concert talk followed by the main concert at 7.30pm. Ticket price, including the talk, is £14 (£7 if accompanying a child under 12) from the Eastgate Theatre (01721 725777) or www.eastgatearts.com Admission is free for members of Music in Peebles and school students.For full details of all concerts, please visit www.musicinpeebles.org.uk. Look forward to seeing you on the night.