Bennewitz Quartet

Biography

The Czech Bennewitz Quartet was founded in 1998 at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and named themselves after the renowned Czech violinist Antonin Bennewitz (1833-1926). “Playing in a quartet means communication for us. It is a challenge to put together our individual views in order to achieve an original result and, through nuances in colour and sound, to keep the music ever lively and fresh.”

The Bennewitz Quartet impressed with its first CD of works by Bartók and Janácek, released in 2008 by Coviello Classics: The broad palette of colours in these works is illuminated in its filigree detail. The trade magazine Fono Forum wrote that the recording showed “fiery temperament ... The young performers have already demonstrated an astonishingly mature and confidently balanced ensemble culture.“ The quartet's second CD with both string quartets by Smetana was released in spring 2010. Klassik.com referred to the recordings as “simply phenomenal”.

The quartet studied in Madrid with Rainer Schmidt of the Hagen Quartet from 2002-2004 and with Walter Levin of the former La Salle Quartet at the Basel Music Academy, where they also taught as Quartet in Residence.

During the quartet’s student years, the ensemble collected its first awards, including the laureate of the Chamber Music Society of the Czech Philharmonic, the Queen of Spain’s diploma for Best Chamber Music Ensemble in 2002/2003 and two special prizes in the 2004 ARD Music Competition. This was followed a year later by first prize at the International Chamber Music Competition in Osaka and a subsequent tour of Japan. In 2008, the quartet’s 10th anniversary year, it was presented with first prize at the highly acclaimed Borciani Competition in Italy. Consequent prizewinners’ tours took the Bennewitz Quartet to the most important venues in Europe, the USA and Japan for 50 concerts. They played in cities including in Tokyo, New York, Brussels and Rome, earning geat acclaim from public, critics and promoters alike and receiving many invitations to return. In autumn 2010 the quartet made its debut at Wigmore Hall, London; the same season brings debuts at the Wiener Konzerthaus and the Seoul Arts Center.

In addition to its cohesive, well-balanced and richly differentiated sound, the Bennewitz Quartet is distinguished by its varied and innovative programmes . Even though still a young ensemble, the Bennewitz Quartet already has particularly broad repertoire, ranging from Bach fugues, through the classic canon, into the modern age and including an entire series of lesser known works, some of which are by Czech composers. Names such as Olga Jezková or Slavomír Horinka cannoty be found on the repertoire lists of other quartets.

Future concerts include their return to the Wigmore Hall as well as tours of the USA and concerts in France and Italy.

The Bennewitz Quartett is supported by the Viennese string-producer Thomasik-Infeld.

Visit the Bennewitz Quartet's website at: www.bennewitzquartet.com

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