Szymanowski Quartet
Biography
Founded in 1995, the Szymanowski Quartet has developed into one of the most remarkable string quartets of its generation. The ensemble delights its audiences with sophisticated programs, performed with a perfect balance between intellect and passion. It is a frequent guest at prestigious festivals and concert halls in Europe and the US. Numerous prizes and awards, among them at the competitions in Melbourne, Osaka, and Florence, confirm the ensemble's extraordinarily high standard.
The quartet studied chamber music with Hatto Beyerle at the University of Music and Drama in Hanover. In addition to its busy concert schedule, the Szymanowski Quartet has polished its interpretations by working regularly with Isaac Stern, Walter Levin, the Amadeus and Emerson Quartets, the Juilliard String Quartet, the Guarneri Quartet, and, recently, in dialogue with Alfred Brendel. Since autumn of 2000 the quartet has taught a chamber music class at the Hanover University of Music and Drama.
In addition to classical and romantic repertoire, the Szymanowski Quartet also frequently performs works by contemporary composers. The quartet was a member of the BBC's New Generation Artists scheme, and numerous recordings from various BBC concert series document its artistic versatility. In autumn 2009 the label Cavi-music published “Paris”, the first part of a 3-CD series, in which the Szymanowski Quartet explores the work and influences of the composer from whom they take their name, Karol Szymanowski, in three of the most important musical centres at the beginning of the 20th century: Paris, Vienna and Moscow.
Recent concerts have included the Wigmore Hall London, the Gewandhaus, Leipzig, the Musikverein, Vienna, and the Schubertiade Schwarzenberg, where they played with the Jerusalem Quartet. They also appear at numerous renowned festivals such as the Schumannfest in Salzburg, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, Lockenhaus and Music at Plush. Their musical partners have included Paul Meyer, Adrian Brendel, Oleg Maisenberg, the Jerusalem Quartet, Kit Armstrong and Charles Owen.
Visit their own website here: www.szymanowski-quartet.com
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