OUT NOW | Belcea Quartet Releases New Album

The Belcea Quartet comprises violinists Corina Belcea and Axel Schacher, violist Krzysztof Chorzelski, and cellist Antoine Lederlin. 

Between 2017 and 2020, the quartet was Ensemble-in-Residence of Berlin’s Pierre Boulez Saal — where they have since performed regularly. They have also been part of a string quartet cycle at Vienna Konzerthaus since 2010.

For their new album of Johannes Brahms’ only two string sextets, the quartet invited friends violist Tabea Zimmermann and cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras to record the works with them at Austria’s Vienna Konzerthaus.

Brahms began writing his String Sextet No.1 in B flat major, op.18, in 1859. It was his first major chamber work without piano accompaniment. Seeking guidance, he sent proofs to his friend and famed violinist Joseph Joachim in 1860, writing: “Sometimes things take me rather a long time, but that probably won’t raise your hopes too high. All the same, since with God nothing is impossible, I enclose the parts in case the Rondo takes your fancy.”

In 1864-65, Brahms wrote his String Sextet No.2 in G major, op.36. Built on a similar structure to his Sextet No.1, the work premiered in Boston in 1866. While it was not well-received at its European premiere in Vienna the following year, the piece was later deemed a true masterpiece. 

To purchase and listen to the album, click here.
The album trailer can be watched below.

Based in Great Britain, the Belcea Quartet was formed at London’s Royal College of Music in 1994. Its founders are Romanian violinist Belcea who now plays a 1775 Giovanni Battista Guadagnini violin and Polish violist Chorzelski, who performs on a c.1670 Nicola Amati viola.

They were joined by French musicians Schacher and Lederlin who, respectively, play an 1824 Nicolas Lupot violin and a 1722 Matteo Gofriller cello. Both Lederlin and Belcea’s instruments are loaned by the MERITO String Instruments Trusts Vienna. 

Their upcoming performances include the Pierre Boulez Saal in May, Basel’s Théâtre des Gare du Nord, and the Mendelssohn & Enescu Octet Project with members of Quatuor Ébène.