8/19/2008 | Artemis Quartet

Artemis Quartet

The Berlin-based Artemis Quartet is one of the leading ensembles of their generation. Students of the Lübeck Musikhochschule who studies with Walter Levin founded the quartet in 1989. Other stimuli came from master classes with the Emerson and Juilliard Quartets in the United States. The quartet has performed as a professional ensemble since, and quickly established itself as one of the leading quartets of their generation. First prizes at the 45th ARD International Music Competition in Munich in 1996 represented a watershed in the quartet's career, and this was followed by first prize at the international string quartet competition "Premio Paolo Borciani" in Italy. Nevertheless the ensemble decided to continue to perfect their playing skills, and in 1998 they studied with the Alban Berg Quartet in Vienna. Their debut at the Berlin Philharmonie in June 1999 marked the formal start of their career. A new chapter in the chamber group's life began in July 2007, when Gregor Sigl and Friedemann Weigle became members of the ensemble.

The Artemis Quartet performs in highly prestigious concert halls such as the Konzerthaus in Vienna, Auditorio Nacional in Madrid, Châtelet theatre in Paris, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Wigmore Hall in London, the Herkulessaal in Munich, Teatro della Pergola in Florence, Carnegie Hall in New York and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The emsemble is a regular guest at major festivals (including the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Bergen Festival, Istanbul Festival, Salzburger Festspiele, Schubertiade Feldkirch, Lockenhaus, Rheingau Musikfestival, Septembre Musical Montreux-Vevey, International Music Festival Stavanger and Montreal Chamber Music Festival) and it tours Japan, the United States, South America and Australia.

The ensemble works with a number of outstanding artists, including Sabine Meyer, Juliane Banse, Boris Pergamenschikov, David Geringas, Veronika Hagen, Leif Ove Andsnes, Elisabeth Leonskaja and Sharon Kam.