“Transfixing . . . The flexibility in tempos that the ensemble brought to [Haydn] was admirable, as was the humor . . . [Their Barber Adagio] was a thing of beauty . . . irresistible energy and high spirits.”
REVIEWS
Transfixing . . . The flexibility in tempos that the ensemble brought to [Haydn] was admirable, as was the humor . . . [Their Barber Adagio] was a thing of beauty . . . irresistible energy and high spirits.” —Allan Kozinn, The New York Times
“A highlight of my concert-going year.” —Paul Cutts, The Strad (review of concert in Wigmore Hall, London)
“This is, no question, one of the best groups in the world, a great string quartet, and its debut here was long overdue . . . I don’t know of any string quartet as capable as this one of reaching the opposite extremes of blunt muscle and airiness . . . Imagine, if you will, Arnold Schwarezenegger dancing on the head of a pin, and you get an idea of the Henschell's accomplishment in achieving late Beethoven.” —Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times
The year 1994 marked the foundation of the Henschel Quartett’s international career, when the quartet devoted itself exclusively to chamber music. In 1995 the quartet won multiple prizes at the international competitions of Evian, Banff, and Salzburg, and the following year won 1st Prize and the Gold Medal at the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition. Successful débuts in the world’s musical capitals, including an acclaimed BBC live broadcast (replacing the Juilliard Quartet), led their way to the forefront of the international chamber music scene.
The quartet’s musical journey has included many remarkable highlights. The Henschel Quartett played at the official re-opening of the Anna-Amalia Library in Weimar (a UNESCO World Heritage site), and travelled to Brussels as a Cultural Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany. In March 2010 the quartet was honored to perform at the Vatican in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI. The quartet has regularly been invited to the Royal Palace of Madrid to perform on the four Stradivari of the royal collection. In 2012 the Henschel Quartett was the first European quartet in twenty years invited to perform Beethoven’s complete string quartets in the prestigious Suntory Hall in Tokyo. That year Monika became the president of the newly-formed Association of German String Quartets, and in 2013 Christoph was appointed Honorary Professor at the University of Augsburg.
The Henschel Quartett’s recordings have been awarded many prizes, including the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and several CD of the Year Awards (IMW). Their CDs have been highly praised in such prominent titles as Gramophone Magazine, the Sunday Times (London), and the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Forthcoming is a CD of works by the acclaimed American composer Christopher Theofanidis.
“This is, no question, one of the best groups in the world, a great string quartet.”
BIOGRAPHY
Founded in Germany in 1994, the Henschel Quartett quickly rose to international fame, winning in 1995 multiple prizes at the Evian, Banff, and Salzburg international competitions, and the following year the 1st Prize and Gold Medal at the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition. Successful débuts in the world’s musical capitals, including an acclaimed BBC live broadcast (replacing the Juilliard Quartet), led their way to the forefront of the international chamber music scene.
The quartet’s musical journey has included many remarkable highlights. The Henschel Quartett played at the official re-opening of the Anna-Amalia Library in Weimar (a UNESCO World Heritage site), and travelled to Brussels as a Cultural Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany. In March 2010 the quartet was honored to perform at the Vatican for Pope Benedict XVI. The quartet has regularly been invited to the Royal Palace of Madrid to perform on the four Stradivari of the royal collection. In 2012 the Henschel Quartett was the first European quartet in twenty years invited to perform Beethoven’s complete string quartets in the prestigious Suntory Hall in Tokyo. That year Monika became the president of the newly-formed Association of German String Quartets.
The Henschel Quartett’s recordings have been awarded many prizes, including the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and several CD of the Year Awards (IMW). Their CDs have been highly praised in such prominent titles as Gramophone Magazine, the Sunday Times (London), and the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Forthcoming is a CD of works by the acclaimed American composer Christopher Theofanidis.
Highlights of recent seasons and the current one include appearances in London, Amsterdam, New York (Carnegie Hall), Washington, DC (Dumbarton Oaks) and Tokyo. They collaborate with the Telegraph Quartet in octet performances, as well as with the esteemed cellist Lynn Harrell in quintets.
The Henschel Quartett regularly accepts invitations to teach at world-class institutions, from Yale University to the Royal Northern College of Music in England, the University of Melbourne in Australia and Geidai University Tokyo, Japan’s most important state university of the arts. The quartet is also engaged in an ongoing collaboration with the Bavarian Ministry of Culture on youth music projects in the quartet’s home city of Munich. The Henschel Quartett has been an Ambassador of SOS Children’s Villages since 2006.
Strad Magazine has published the Henschel Quartett’s blog, "10 ways to achieve long-term success with your string quartet."
“A highlight of my concert-going year.”