Stradivarius Quartet

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The Stradivari Quartet is a string quartet ensemble that made its debut at the first concert of the season at the Tonhalle Zurich on September 18, 2007. Until 2017, the quartet played four instruments by violin maker Antonio Stradivari from the collection of the Habisreutinger Foundation. Currently two of the four members still play on Stradivaris.

occupation

The line-up consists of multiple award-winning musicians who, in addition to the quartet, play in renowned orchestras such as the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich , the Zurich Opera House and the Ars Amata Zurich .

Founding formation:

Current formation:

Instruments

The Stradivari Quartet initially played exclusively on Stradivari instruments. The four instruments belong to the Swiss Stradivari Foundation Habisreutinger and were loaned to the Stradivari Quartet in September 2007. Before that, they had been given to the Amar Quartet founded by Maja Weber and Anna Brunner in 1999 . In the fall of 2017, the Stradivari Foundation Habisreutinger awarded two of the four instruments elsewhere. So two members of the Stradivari Quartet (Wang Xiaoming and Maja Weber) are currently playing on Stradivari from the Habisreutinger Foundation.

Violin "Aurea"

The instrument was made by Stradivari in 1715. Its history is unknown until well into the 19th century, when it came into the possession of the violinist Prof. Bartl, who had it converted for legal play and played for 40 years. In 1909 it was restored to its original condition by its new owner and has been left to play ever since.

Wang Xiaoming's "Aurea" is played in the Stradivari Quartet .

"King George" violin

The violin was made in 1710 and named after the British King George I , who owned it. The instrument was used by King George III until 1815 . played, who gave it as a gift to a Scottish officer. He fell on July 18, 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo , and the intact violin was found in the saddlebag of his horse.

The "King George" was last played by Sebastian Bohren in the Stradivari Quartet . She is currently played by Yukiko Ishibashi .

Viola "Gibson"

This instrument from 1734 is probably the last Stradivari viola, which was 90 years old when it was built. The viola, which is the only one to have a bottom cut after the rind, is considered to be one of the best preserved examples of Stradivari's craftsmanship and is one of only 9 surviving violas by the master builder. Today it is named after its former owner, the violinist George Alfred Gibson (1849–1924).

In the Stradivari Quartet, the "Gibson" was played by Lech Antonio Uszynski until 2017 . She is currently played by Ursula Sarntheim . Uszynski has been playing a Hendrick Willems viola from 1690 since 2017.

Violoncello "Bonamy Dobree-Suggia"

This cello, built in 1717, is named after two of its previous owners, Professor Bonamy Dobree (1891–1974) and the cellist Guilhermina Suggia , Pau Casals ' partner . There is a portrait of Sir August John in London's Tate Gallery , showing Suggia with her cello.

Maja Weber's “Bonamy Dobree-Suggia” is played in the Stradivari Quartet .

Appearances

Debut tour

The concert program of the debut tour in November 2007 included works by Joseph Haydn , Bedřich Smetana and a world premiere of the string quartet No. 5 ( Fantastic Tales ) by the Swiss composer Daniel Schnyder . Stops on this tour through Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria were:

  • Munich, Residence, November 10, 2007
  • Berlin, Philharmonie, November 11, 2007
  • Prague, Rudolfinum, November 13, 2007
  • Budapest, Early Music Academy, November 14, 2007
  • Eisenstadt, Esterhazy Palace, November 15, 2007
  • Salzburg, Mozart residence, November 16, 2007
  • Vienna, Konzerthaus, November 17, 2007

Further appearances (selection)

  • Vitznau , Stradivari Summit, 8. – 12. May 2008
  • New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, January 22, 2009
  • Chur (Graubünden), Theater Chur, April 3, 2012
  • China tour, 9.-12. May 2012
  • Korea Tour, March 23-27 April 2016
  • Hamburg, Elbphilharmonie, September 18, 2017
  • Vienna, Konzerthaus, September 16, 2018

Discography

  • 2007: Christmas roses
  • 2015: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Prussian Quartets
  • 2018: Robert Schumann, String Quartets op.41
  • 2018: Franz Schubert, string quartet in G major and string quartet movements D 103 and D 703

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Amar Quartet University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, status: 2000.
  2. ↑ a b c d Stradivari Foundation Habisreutinger: instruments
  3. ↑ Der Stradivari-Wahn Spiegel online, December 10, 2007
  4. ↑ Stradivari's 'Gibson' viola (PDF; 6.0 MB). Detailed description of the instrument by Roger Hargrave
  5. ↑ Curriculum Vitae lechantoniouszynski.com
  6. ↑ Myth of Stradivari - The young Swiss "Stradivari Quartet" makes its debut on four of the most precious instruments of the legendary master violin maker ots.at, press release of November 6, 2007.
  7. ↑ Playing Second Fiddle to Their Instruments . New York Times Music Review, January 23, 2009
  8. ↑ China tour 2012 china.stradivariquartett.com