The
Arditti Quartet is an internationally acclaimed
string quartetA string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string instruments — usually two violins, a viola and cello — or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
founded in 1974. The quartet is associated particularly with contemporary music.
The Arditti Quartet enjoys a world-wide reputation for their spirited and technically refined interpretations of contemporary and earlier 20th century music. Several hundred string quartets and other chamber works have been written for the ensemble since its foundation by first violinist Irvine Arditti (b.
The
Arditti Quartet is an internationally acclaimed
string quartetA string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string instruments — usually two violins, a viola and cello — or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
founded in 1974. The quartet is associated particularly with contemporary music.
The Arditti Quartet enjoys a world-wide reputation for their spirited and technically refined interpretations of contemporary and earlier 20th century music. Several hundred string quartets and other chamber works have been written for the ensemble since its foundation by first violinist Irvine Arditti (b.
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
, 1953) in 1974. These works have left a permanent mark on 20th century repertoire and have given the Arditti Quartet a firm place in music history. World premieres of works by composers such as
Thomas AdèsThomas Adès is a British composer, pianist and conductor.Adès studied piano with Paul Berkowitz and later composition with Robert Saxton at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. After attending University College School, he achieved a double starred first in 1992 at King's College,...
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and hundreds more, show the wide range of music in the Arditti Quartet’s repertoire.
The ensemble believes that close collaboration with composers is vital to the process of interpreting modern music and therefore attempts to work with every composer it plays. The players' commitment to educational work is indicated by their masterclasses and workshops for young performers and composers all over the world. From 1982 to 1996 the quartet’s members were resident string tutors at the Darmstadt Summer Courses for New Music.
The Arditti Quartet’s extensive discography now features over 160 CDs. Forty-two discs have been released as part of the ensemble’s continuing series on the French label Naïve Montaigne. The series presents numerous contemporary composer features as well as the first digital recordings of the complete
Second Viennese SchoolThe Second Viennese School is the term generally used in English-speaking countries to denote the group of composers that comprised Arnold Schoenberg and his pupils and close associates in early 20th century Vienna, where, with breaks, he lived and taught between 1903 and 1925...
's string quartet music. Stockhausen’s infamous
Helicopter Quartet is to be found here. As well as many composer portraits recorded in their presence, the complete quartets of
Luciano BerioLuciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian composer. He is noted for his experimental work and also for his pioneering work in electronic music.-Biography:Berio was born on Oneglia Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI(October 24, 1925 – May 27, 2003) was an Italian...
were recorded shortly before his death. The quartet have recorded for more than 20 other labels and some of the latest releases include music by Ades, Cage, Fedele, Finsterer, Frith, Ingolfsson, Neuwirth, Paredes, Moe and Lachenmann
Over the past 25 years, the ensemble has received many prizes for its work. They have won the Deutsche Schallplatten Preis several times and the Gramophone Award for the best recording of contemporary music in 1999 (Elliott Carter) and 2002 (Harrison Birtwistle). The prestigious
Ernst von Siemens Music PrizeThe international Ernst von Siemens Music Prize is an annual music prize given by the Bayerische Akademie der Schönen Künste on behalf of the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung , established in 1972. The foundation was established by Ernst von Siemens...
was awarded to them in 1999 for "lifetime achievement" in music.
Members
- Irvine Arditti
Born in London in 1953, Irvine Arditti began his studies at the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 16 where he studied with Clarence Myerscough and Manoug Parikian. He joined the London Symphony Orchestra in 1976 and after two years, at the age of 25, became its Co-Concert Master...
(violin) 1974-
- Ashot Sarkissjan (violin) 2005-
- Ralf Ehlers (viola) 2003-
- Lucas Fels (cello) 2006-
Violin 2
- Lennox Mackenzie 1974-1983
- Alexander Balanescu 1983-85
- David Alberman 1985-1994
- Graeme Jennings
Graeme Jennings is an Australian classical violinist.He studied at the Queensland Conservatorium where he completed his bachelor's degree in 1989, and later on, at the San Francisco Conservatory, earning his master's degree in 1992, and an Artist Certificate in Chamber Music in 1994. His principal...
1994-2005
External links