Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Quatuor Mosaïques is a renowned classical music ensemble that specializes in performing music from the Classical and Romantic periods on period instruments. The ensemble was founded in 1987 by four musicians who shared a passion for historically informed performance practice and a desire to explore the rich repertoire of string quartets from the 18th and 19th centuries. The founding members of Quatuor Mosaïques were Erich Höbarth (violin), Andrea Bischof (violin), Anita Mitterer (viola), and Christophe Coin (cello). All four musicians were highly respected in the early music community and had extensive experience performing with other period instrument ensembles. From the beginning, Quatuor Mosaïques set out to distinguish itself from other string quartets by using period instruments and playing in a historically informed style. This meant using gut strings, period bows, and tuning their instruments to lower pitches than modern orchestras. The ensemble also studied historical treatises and manuscripts to gain a deeper understanding of the performance practices of the time. Quatuor Mosaïques quickly gained a reputation for their innovative and engaging performances, and they were soon in demand at major concert halls and festivals around the world. Some of their most notable performances include appearances at the Salzburg Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, and the BBC Proms. One of the highlights of Quatuor Mosaïques' career was their recording of the complete string quartets of Joseph Haydn. The ensemble spent several years studying and recording these works, and the resulting recordings were widely praised for their clarity, precision, and musicality. The recordings were released on the Astrée label and won numerous awards, including a Gramophone Award and a Diapason d'Or. In addition to their work with Haydn, Quatuor Mosaïques has also recorded works by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Mendelssohn, among others. Their recordings have been praised for their historical accuracy and their ability to bring new life to familiar works. Quatuor Mosaïques has also collaborated with many other musicians and ensembles over the years, including pianist Andreas Staier, clarinetist Sabine Meyer, and the Kuijken Quartet. These collaborations have resulted in some of the ensemble's most memorable performances and recordings. Despite changes in personnel over the years, Quatuor Mosaïques has remained committed to its founding principles of historical accuracy and musical excellence. The current members of the ensemble are Erich Höbarth (violin), Andrea Bischof (violin), Anita Mitterer (viola), and Christophe Coin (cello). They continue to perform and record regularly, and their contributions to the world of historically informed performance have been widely recognized and celebrated.

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