Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Casal Quartett is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 2000 by four young musicians who shared a passion for chamber music. The quartet is named after the Spanish cellist Gaspar Cassadó and his wife, the pianist Chieko Hara, who were both influential figures in the world of classical music. The founding members of Casal Quartett were Rachel Späth and Markus Fleck on violin, Markus Fleck on viola, and Andreas Fleck on cello. All four musicians had already established themselves as talented soloists and chamber musicians before coming together to form the quartet. From the beginning, Casal Quartett was committed to exploring the full range of the chamber music repertoire, from the classical works of Haydn and Mozart to the contemporary compositions of living composers. The quartet quickly gained a reputation for their technical precision, musical sensitivity, and innovative programming. One of the highlights of Casal Quartett's early career was their performance at the 2002 International Chamber Music Competition in Osaka, Japan. The quartet won first prize in the string quartet category, as well as the special prize for the best performance of a contemporary work. This success helped to launch the quartet onto the international stage, and they began to receive invitations to perform at major festivals and concert halls around the world. Over the years, Casal Quartett has undergone some changes in personnel, with Rachel Späth leaving the group in 2008 and being replaced by Vera Laporeva on violin. However, the quartet has remained committed to their original vision of exploring the full range of the chamber music repertoire and bringing new works to audiences around the world. One of the quartet's most notable achievements was their recording of the complete string quartets of the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. This ambitious project took several years to complete and involved extensive research into the composer's life and work. The resulting recordings were widely praised for their technical excellence and musical insight, and helped to cement Casal Quartett's reputation as one of the leading chamber music ensembles of their generation. In addition to their work as a quartet, the members of Casal Quartett are also active as soloists and teachers. They have all held positions at major conservatories and universities around the world, and have mentored countless young musicians who are following in their footsteps. Today, Casal Quartett continues to perform regularly at major concert halls and festivals around the world. They have also expanded their repertoire to include collaborations with other musicians and artists, including dancers, actors, and visual artists. Through their innovative programming and commitment to excellence, Casal Quartett has become one of the most respected and beloved chamber music ensembles of our time.

More....