Philharmonia Quartett Berlin

Hailed as “Four of the Best” by the British press after their debut at Wigmore Hall in London two decades ago, the PHILHARMONIA QUARTET BERLIN has since celebrated a critically acclaimed career, establishing itself among the world’s premier string quartets with 20 years of international concerts and a large and diverse discography. Their extensive concert calendar has taken them to destinations throughout Europe, North and South America as well as Asia. Lord Yehudi Menuhin commented: “I’d like to hear music always played as beautifully as you play.” Founded in 1984 by the principal concertmaster and the string section leaders of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the quartet appears regularly at the world’s most prestigious concert halls such as Carnegie Hall or Wigmore Hall in London. Annual international festival appearances include performances at the Salzburg Festival. In 2006 the Philharmonia Quartet Berlin has been invited by his Excellence Pope Benedict XVI to perform a private concert at the Vatican. The Spanish Royal Family invites the ensemble regularly to the Palacio Real to play on the royal Stradivari instruments. The Philharmonia Quartet Berlin enthuses the audiences throughout the world with their incredible artistry. In particular, the Beethoven and Shostakovich cycle in the Philharmonie Berlin caused international furor. The ensemble’s discography is quite extensive including recent recordings of the quartets of Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Shostakovich and Reger for the Thorofon Classics label. The Reger recording was awarded the German Record Critics prize. The quartet received two times an “ECHO KLASSIK” award for Chamber Music for their most recent Beethoven CDs. In 2001 the quartet was awarded the Argentine Critic Price in Buenos Aires. Until the sudden death of the violoncellist Jan Diesselhorst in February 2009 the members Philharmonia Quartet Berlin have never changed. Dietmar Schwalke is now occupying his place and he and his colleagues will, once again, demonstrate their superb and exceptional quality of ensemble playing on all stages of the world.