Members of the Artemis Quartett / Hagen / Boesch / Lonquich

Singing on strings

»The delicacy, the profound urgency, the tight communication, the balance between directness and the artfully designed: that’s all still there,« wrote one critic about the world-famous Artemis Quartett last year. The elite ensemble, which was formed more than 30 years ago, is now taking a break from performing. How fortunate, then, that two of its members, first violinist Vineta Sareika and violist Gregor Sigl, are getting together again in an unusual line-up this autumn. Together with outstanding musical companions, they turn their attention to the wonderfully diverse lieder and chamber music works of the Romantic composers Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann. Besides cellist Julia Hagen and pianist Alexander Lonquich, they are also joined by star bass-baritone Florian Boesch, to whom the Elbphilharmonie is dedicating a special Portrait series this season.