
Download Biography:
DE /
EN /
FR
"Passion, precision, warmth, a gold blend: these are the trademarks of this excellent Israeli string quartet."
Such was the New York Times' impression of the Jerusalem Quartet. Since the ensemble's founding in 1993 and subsequent 1996 debut, the four Israeli musicians have embarked on a journey of growth and maturation. This journey has resulted in a wide repertoire and stunning depth of expression, which carries on the string quartet tradition in a unique manner. The ensemble has found its core in a warm, full, human sound and an egalitarian balance between high and low voices. This approach allows the quartet to maintain a healthy relationship between individual expression and a transparent and respectful presentation of the composer's work. It is also the drive and motivation for the continuing refinement of its interpretations of the classical repertoire as well as exploration of new epochs.
The Jerusalem Quartet is a regular and beloved guest on the world's great concert stages. With regular bi-annual visits to North America, the quartet has performed in cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington, and Cleveland as well as in the Ravinia Festival. In Europe, the quartet enjoys an enthusiastic reception with regular appearances in all the prestige concert halls and at festivals such as Salzburg, Verbier, Rheingau, Schleswig-Holstein or Schubertiade Schwarzenberg.
„In the wrong hands, Dvořák’s music can appear to meander on occasion, but here one wishes its heartfelt inspiration would go on for ever.”The Strad, June 2018
The Jerusalem Quartet records exclusively for Harmonia Mundi. The quartet's recordings have been honored with numerous awards such as the Diapason d'Or and the BBC Music Magazine Award for chamber music.In the spring of 2019, the quartet released a unique album exploring Jewish music in Central Europe between the wars including a collection of Yiddish Cabaret songs from Warsaw in the 1920s, featuring Israeli Soprano Hila Baggio. In 2020, the Jerusalem Quartet released the second (and last) album of their complete Bartók cycle; both recordings were critically acclaimed.
In August 2022, the ensemble played the Bartók cycle at the Salzburg Festival; in the course of the 2022/2023 season, they are invited to perform e.g. at the String Quartet Biennale in Barcelona and at renowned concert halls such as the Philharmonic Halls in Berlin and Luxembourg, and the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. A special chamber musical highlight are performances of the Shostakovich Piano Quintet, together with Elisabeth Leonskaja, e.g. at Wigmore Hall London, Concertgebouw Amsterdam or Concertgebouw Brügge. Furthermore, Elisabeth Leonskaja is joining the Jerusalem Quartet on a tour of Italy with concerts in Rome, Florence, Milano and Bologna. Other highlights of the season include a concert with Frans Helmerson and Miguel Da Silva in Istanbul and performances with Hila Baggio and the Yiddish Cabaret program, including at Wigmore Hall.
2022 / 2023
This biography is to be reproduced without any changes, omissions or additions, unless expressly authorized by artist management.
Contacts: Matthias Hermann, Ellen Bäuerle
Matthias Hermann
t: +49 (0)30 414 781 716
f: +49 (0)30 414 781 713
Ellen Bäuerle
t: +49 (0)30 414 781 712
f: +49 (0)30 414 781 713