Le Musiche Quartet

Le Musiche Biogaphy

Founded in 2000 in the context of the Herbert-von-Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, the Le Musiche Quartet brings together 4 young musicians of different nationalities. Early mentors include 1st concert master of the Berlin Philharmonic, Toru Yasunaga, and members of the Philharmonia and Alban Berg Quartets, whose support resulted in debut performances in Berlin’s Konzerthaus and Philharmonie. From there the young quartet went on to travel and perform both locally, throughout Europe and abroad.

The Le Musiche Quartet has concertized in Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Spain, United Kingdom, America and Asia. On special invitation of president Johannes Rau of Germany the ensemble performed for the Queen of England in London’s National Gallery in 2001.

The quartet is now a frequent guest at various festivals, including the Salzburger Orchesterfestspiele and the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele. It also enjoys the status of ensemble in residence at the Festival Opera Barga and the Festival Bobbio Classica.

Through it’s close association with the Berlin Philharmonic, Le Musiche frequently collaborates with other notable performers such as the violist Carrie Dennis and solo-Clarinetist Wenzel Fuchs. A concert cycle in Florence and other engagements also find the quartet regularly collaborating with Tchaikovsky Piano Competition winner Jin Jui.

In May of 2007 Le Musiche was invited by the Emerson String Quartet to participate in a seminar and series of performances of Beethoven quartets. The New York Times praised the quartet’s Weill Hall debut and described it as the ensemble’s start of a great Career. Similarly, the composer G. Kurtag noted that the young quartet’s interpretation of Bartok’s 1st String Quartet was one of the most sensitive and convincing renditions of the piece that he had heard.

Further activities include live broadcasts and productions for Germany’s Westdeutscher Rundfunk station and the pursuit of unusual new repertoire. In this context Le Musiche performed the premier of a quartet by composer Franz Hofmann (1920-45) on live radio in August 2008.

Also active in the educational sphere, since 2006 the Le Musiche Quartet conducts a quartet master class in Framura, Italy.

Highlights of the 2009 season include a return to New York’s Carnegie Hall, tours to France and Italy and Germany’s Ostsee region, as well as performances at the Osnabrueck Kammermusiktage and the Meistersaengerhalle in Nuernberg.