The members of the Royal String Quartet came together by chance: “We were obliged to play together for a couple of semesters at the Warsaw Music Academy,” second violinist Elwira Przybylowska told me. “But we rapidly became friends”. That was 13 years ago, since when Elwira has seen many other string quartets come and go. “The players couldn’t agree with each other. There are always occasions when you need to compromise musically, but everyone must agree in the end.”

The Royals come to Oxford after two years as BBC New Generation Artists, having taken a break while daughter Hania was born to first violinist Izabella Szalaj-Zimak. “It was really good to have this break,” Elwira said. “We had been working like crazy for 12 years, and it was really nice to meet up again after a gap. We felt as if we had fresh minds.”

The Royals Alessandro are playing for Music at Oxford at the Sheldonian on November 25 (01865 244806). The Royals play Szymanowski’s String Quartet No 2, and Gorecki’s Quartet No 1 — subtitled “Already it is dusk”.

“Gorecki is writing about forest demons at dusk,” Elwira explained. “They make a lot of noise, and cause a lot of trouble. The work is based on Polish folk tunes — they’re not always obvious, but you can spot them if you know your Polish music.”

Pianist Alessandro Taverna, above, will concentrate on Chopin, playing his Valse in C sharp minor, op 64, no 2, and his Introduction and Rondo in E flat major.

A London International Piano Competition winner, and runner-up in the Leeds Piano Competition, he will combine with the Royals to play the piece that won him those awards. Chopin’s Piano Concerto No 1 will be heard in its original version: Chopin is believed to have conceived the work as a chamber piece for string quartet and piano.