When one imagines the venues in Winnipeg that typically hosts string quartet performances, the Garrick Hotel Bar on Garry Street is perhaps one of the last places that come to mind. A group of musicians is aiming to change that perception this weekend with music and narration guiding a mystery story for audiences to experience. Violinist and narrator Clair Tang was surprised when the bar’s owner approached them about performing in his space. “He called me a while ago and he said, ‘Clair, I’ve seen your playing on Instagram and I really like your playing,’” she recalled in an interview on Morning Light, remembering how her performances in a wide range of genres was what caught the owner’s attention to try and book Tang to execute his idea. .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } That idea was a musical mystery - “The Lost Violin of Sherlock Holmes” - which sees the famous detective trying to track down his own Stradivarius after it was stolen. “I found the idea quite interesting,” says Tang, “because you’re not just playing classical music, but playing classical music in a different location. So, right away, I said yes.” Tang quickly enlisted other collaborators – violinist Will Harder, violist Chelsea Dong and cellist Natanielle Felicitas to help bring this musical story to life. They quickly settled on a program that features familiar composers like Tchaikovsky and Satie alongside traditional folk music and original arrangements of themes made by Tang to help usher the story along. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Garrick Hotel Bar (@garrickhotelbar) For Felicitas, whose work typically encompasses genres beyond the traditional classical sphere, the concert has enormous potential to share string quartet stylings with a new base of listeners and also benefit the venue. “It’ll hopefully bring in a new clientele to his establishment,” she says, referring to the owner’s vision. “He’s breaking a mold, especially for his venue.” Tang hopes that audiences will come away from the evening’s story having enjoyed the role that music can play in narrative settings, regardless of the venue. “Most of the time when we listen to music – not only just the classical music, music without any lyrics – we don’t know what’s going on,” she says. “So, with the context of the story or with the background music and story together, I hope that they can feel what the music is about.” “The Lost Violin of Sherlock Holmes” will be shared on the stage at the Garrick Hotel Bar at 9:15 p.m. on October 25. Tickets are rush seating and are in limited supply. For more information, prospective audience members are encouraged to reserve their seats.