Carmina Quartet

The Carmina Quartet has been touring the world's concert stages for 25 years, and continues to enjoy international acclaim, based on the ever-growing strength and authenticity of its musical language as well as the diversity of its repertoire. Intensity of expression, effortless perfection, and stylistic integrity remain the hallmarks of the group, founded in Switzerland in 1984. Spectacular early successes in string quartet competitions and headlines in the international press have paved the way for appearances world-wide. "Destined for greatness" (Financial Times), the Carmina Quartet is now ranked among the leading quartets of our time.

Mentors of the quartet include Sandor Végh, members of the Amadeus and LaSalle quartets, and Nikolaus Harnoncourt, who in particular kindled a keen creative interest in authentic performance practice. In addition to an extensive quartet repertoire, the Carmina Quartet performs regularly with such musicians as Mitsuko Uchida, Emanuel Pahud, Truls Mork, Sabine und Wolfgang Meyer, Antonio Meneses, Veronika Hagen, Olaf Bär, Wolfgang Holzmair, and Xavier de Maistre.

The quartet has recorded a critically acclaimed series of Cds for DENON, which have received numerous awards, including a Gramophone Award, Diapason d'Or, Deutscher Schallplattenpreis, and a Grammy nomination. The Carmina Quartet's latest recordings include Mozart and Brahms clarinet quintets for Sony (2010, with Wolfgang and Sabine Meyer), Boccherini guitar quintet, also for Sony (with Rolf Lislevand), as well as two recent DENON recordings: Bartók's first and second string quartets, and a recording of Schumann piano quintet and Schubert "Trout" quintet with Kyoko Tabe. The latter was awarded the coveted "Record Academy Award of Japan" for 2008. In 2011, the quartet recorded Brahms piano chamber music with Kyoko Tabe for DENON, and in 2012, SONY released Dvorak‘s "American" string quartet and piano quintet (with pianist Teo Gheorghiu).

As quartet in residence at the Zí¼rich University of the Arts, the Carmina Quartet brings its rich experience and its eloquent artistry to the next generation of musicians.