Download Michelangelo String Quartet

Michelangelo String Quartet
– String Quartet
Mihaela Martin (violin), Daniel Austrich (violin), Nobuko Imai (viola),
Frans Helmerson (cello)
The Michelangelo String Quartet was formed in 2002 by four interpreters
distinguished worldwide as soloists, chamber musicians and teachers who
share an irresistible desire to play together the string quartet repertoire. Since
their first concert season, they have toured regularly in Japan, the UK,
Scandinavia, Italy, Korea and Benelux, giving concerts in major halls such as
the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Théâtre des Champs Elysées (Paris), Tonhalle (Zürich) and London’s Wigmore Hall.
Festival appearances in the last two years have included Edinburgh, Geneva, Manchester, Prades and Stockholm, and
everywhere the ensemble has received rave reviews. Music critics have unanimously praised the quartet for the
collective virtuosity and experience of its members, as well as their musicality and intensity of feeling thus ranking the
ensemble as one of the most interesting on the current musical scene. They have recently embarked on a project to
play the complete Beethoven Quartets in Perth, Scotland.
Romanian violinist Mihaela Martin has continued, through her teacher Stefan Gheorghiu, a violinistic line including
David Oistrakh and George Enescu. Awarded at the Tchaikovsky Competition, she received the first prize at the
Indianapolis International Violin Competition thus ensuring her international career. Her chamber music partners have
included Martha Argerich, Yuri Bashmet, Nobuko Imai, Leon Fleischer and Menahim Pressler. She is a professor at the
Musikhochschule, Cologne.
Born in St. Petersburg, Daniel Austrich has distinguished himself by winning the Paganini Competition in Moscow and
currently is one of the most eminent Russian musicians of his generation. He studied in Cologne with Viktor Tretyakov
and also won the Beethoven Competition in Austria as well as the Sarasate Competition in Spain. Mr Austrich has
performed with many important orchestras - Thonalle in Zürich and Düsseldorf, Jena Philarmonic – and at numerous
international festivals (Davos, Ottawa, Schleswig Holstein, Usedom) with partners such as David Geringas, Julian
Steckel, Itzhak Perlman.
Former Vermeer Quartet member, Japanese-born Nobuko Imai is considered one of the most outstanding viola
players of our time. After studying at the Toho School of Music in Tokyo, Yale University and the Julliard School, she
won the first prize at the Munich and Geneva International Competitions. Distinguished chamber music collaborators
include Gidon Kremer, Midori, Itzhak Perlman, Yo Yo Ma, Andras Schiff and Ronald Brautigam. She holds
professorships at the Amsterdam and Geneva Conservatory.
During the 1970's Frans Helmerson was principal cellist of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton
of Sergiu Celibidache. After studying with William Pleeth and Rostropovich, he won the first prize at the Cassadò
International Competition as well as in Geneva and Munich. An extremely versatile cellist, he combines his love of
chamber music with a career as soloist and conductor. He holds a professorship at the Musikhochschule in Cologne.
Crescendi Artists
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