Lithuanian-Polish violinist Agata Daraškaitė enjoys a busy and varied performing career on both modern and period instruments. She studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Royal College of Music, where, as a winner of the concerto competition, she performed Berg’s violin concerto with Edward Gardner conducting. She subsequently graduated with Distinction, winning The Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Rosebowl. Agata's love for the sound worlds created by gut strings and the immense string quartet repertoire led to the creation of the Consone Quartet. The first period instrument string quartet to be selected as BBC New Generation Artists, Borletti-Buitoni Artists and recipients of multiple Continuo Foundation grant awards, the Consone Quartet are fast making a name for themselves with their honest and expressive interpretations of repertoire from the classical and romantic eras, played on gut strings.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Feeling like you belong, in pretty much any situation! But if I had to choose a particular situation in which I feel happy it would be walking on soft green moss in a pine forest on a sunny summer’s day and coming across a beautiful family of porcini. Being from Lithuania (where foraging is almost a religion!) these moments connect me to my roots in a very special way.

What is your greatest fear?

Heights.

What is your superpower / superhero ability?

Pressing the snooze button (often multiple times) on my phone while still fully asleep!

What non-musical hobbies or interests do you have?

Photography, specifically the thrill of waiting for my photos to be developed.

What is it that you most dislike? Feel free to explain why, or not!

Flaky people. And peanuts.

If you could meet anyone from the past, who would it be?

Joseph Haydn, Iris Apfel, Robin Williams, Clara Schumann, Salvador Dalí. Preferably all in the same room at the same time.

^{A track from the Consone Quartet's recording of Haydn's String Quartet in G Major, Op.77}

What is your earliest musical memory?

Singing along (sometimes in made-up gibberish English) to pretty much anything my parents would listen to.

Who is your favourite composer, and why?

Joseph Haydn and Robert Schumann would have to fight it out - both amazing storytellers, but Schumann breaks my heart too often!

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^{Consone Quartet - R. Schumann String Quartet in A minor, Op.41, No.1 - III Adagio}

What made you choose the violin?

My grandmother. She told me that when I was a toddler she would sing me nursery rhymes. Occasionally she would sing one really out of tune on purpose to test me. Apparently my face said it all and so she decided I might have a musical ear!

Would you like to put the spotlight on a teacher, a mentor or an ensemble that has had a significant influence on your journey so far, and why?    

Too many to mention - I have so many musical heroes! Violin-wise - Vera Beths - this lady played every style of music (from early music to 21st century repertoire) with such commitment and passion.

The Consone Quartet's latest programme, Beethoven Mixtape, has recently been selected for a Continuo Foundation grant. What excites you about this project?

We can’t wait to celebrate some of the lesser known composers who were important figures in Beethoven’s life and in musical society at the time. We are excited to learn from Dr Katy Hamilton, who will no doubt have some great stories!

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^{Consone Quartet - Carl Czerny String Quartet in D minor, III Adagio
The Consone Quartet will perform music by lesser-known composers including Carl Czerny, Ferdinand Ries and Emilie Mayer in their 'Beethoven Mixtape' programme, alongside works by Haydn and Felix & Fanny Mendelssohn.}

How did you get into historical performance practice/early music?

I was always curious about it - I loved the sound of HIP recordings and wondered what it would be like to try it. Once I did, I was immediately hooked and HIP has become a big part of my musical life!

What's so special about using gut strings for the classical and romantic repertoire?

I often compare playing on gut strings to photography - playing on gut feels like seeing the grain on a film photograph as opposed to the polished digital version. And I love film photography!