Quatuor Thymos is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 2012 in Paris, France. The group consists of four members: violinists Marie-Ange Leurent and Julien Szulman, violist Raphaël Pagnon, and cellist Cyrille Tricoire. The ensemble's name, "Thymos," is derived from the Greek word for "spiritedness" or "passion," which reflects the group's commitment to bringing energy and emotion to their performances. The members of Quatuor Thymos all have impressive backgrounds in classical music. Marie-Ange Leurent has performed with the Orchestre National de France and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, among others. Julien Szulman has played with the Orchestre de Paris and the Orchestre National de Lille, and has won several awards for his solo performances. Raphaël Pagnon has performed with the Orchestre National de France and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, and has also won awards for his solo work. Cyrille Tricoire has played with the Orchestre National de France and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, and has won several prizes for his cello playing. The ensemble's founding was inspired by the members' shared passion for chamber music. They came together with the goal of exploring the rich repertoire of string quartets and bringing their own unique interpretation to these works. Since their formation, Quatuor Thymos has performed extensively throughout France and Europe, earning critical acclaim for their dynamic and expressive performances. One of the ensemble's early highlights was their performance at the Festival de Musique de Menton in 2013. They were praised for their "remarkable musicality" and "impressive technical skills" in their performance of works by Beethoven and Schubert. This performance helped to establish Quatuor Thymos as a rising star in the classical music world. In 2014, the ensemble won first prize at the International Chamber Music Competition in Lyon, France. This prestigious award helped to further cement their reputation as one of the most exciting young chamber music ensembles in Europe. The prize included a recording contract with the French label Paraty, which released the ensemble's debut album, featuring works by Haydn and Schumann, in 2015. Since then, Quatuor Thymos has continued to perform at major venues and festivals throughout Europe, including the Festival de La Roque d'Anthéron, the Festival de Musique de Besançon, and the Festival de Musique de Menton. They have also collaborated with other renowned musicians, including pianist Jean-Frédéric Neuburger and clarinetist Raphaël Sévère. One of the ensemble's most memorable performances was their 2018 concert at the Philharmonie de Paris, where they performed Beethoven's complete string quartets over the course of six concerts. This ambitious project was praised for its "remarkable coherence" and "deep emotional impact," and cemented Quatuor Thymos's reputation as one of the foremost interpreters of Beethoven's music. In addition to their performances, Quatuor Thymos is also committed to education and outreach. They regularly give masterclasses and workshops for young musicians, and have worked with organizations such as the Orchestre des Jeunes de la Méditerranée and the Orchestre Français des Jeunes. They are also passionate about promoting contemporary music, and have premiered works by composers such as Thierry Escaich and Philippe Hersant.

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