Biography
The Casal Quartett, known in English as the Casal Quartet and frequently appearing under the stylings casalQuartett or cQ, ranks among the small number of prominent chamber ensembles that have established major careers on both modern and period instruments. Its extensive and eclectic catalog reaches back to the 17th century and forward through an array of present-day styles.
Founded in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1996, the ensemble must be distinguished from Spain’s Casals Quartet. Its personnel comprises violinists Felix Froschhammer and Rachel Späth, violist Markus Fleck, and cellist Andreas Fleck. The original members trained under the Carmina Quartet in Basel, Switzerland, and the Alban Berg Quartet in Cologne, Germany, later pursuing additional instruction with Walter Levin in Basel and participating in master classes and coaching sessions led by figures such as Martha Argerich, Fazil Say, and Emma Kirkby. The quartet has performed extensively across Switzerland and Germany, presenting programs that span the 17th century to the present and encompass tango, works by Karlheinz Stockhausen, and pieces for young listeners. A pivotal shift occurred in 2008 when the group began using 17th-century instruments crafted by Jacob Steiner, enabling focused exploration of the string quartet’s evolution throughout the 18th century. To mark the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth in 2020, the players assembled a “Beethoven’s World” program that situated the composer among his contemporaries.
The ensemble entered the recording studio for the first time in 1999 with a release containing quartets by Schubert and Janáček. Most of its discs have appeared on the Solo Musica imprint, though it has also collaborated with Telos, Bayer, and Guild, the last of which issued a 2006 collection of 20th-century Swiss quartets. Its recorded output has remained broad, stretching from the quartets of 18th-century composer Franz Xaver Richter to tango arrangements. In 2020 the quartet partnered with Fazil Say on the album Ballads & Quintets, which features compositions by both Say and Schumann.
Founded in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1996, the ensemble must be distinguished from Spain’s Casals Quartet. Its personnel comprises violinists Felix Froschhammer and Rachel Späth, violist Markus Fleck, and cellist Andreas Fleck. The original members trained under the Carmina Quartet in Basel, Switzerland, and the Alban Berg Quartet in Cologne, Germany, later pursuing additional instruction with Walter Levin in Basel and participating in master classes and coaching sessions led by figures such as Martha Argerich, Fazil Say, and Emma Kirkby. The quartet has performed extensively across Switzerland and Germany, presenting programs that span the 17th century to the present and encompass tango, works by Karlheinz Stockhausen, and pieces for young listeners. A pivotal shift occurred in 2008 when the group began using 17th-century instruments crafted by Jacob Steiner, enabling focused exploration of the string quartet’s evolution throughout the 18th century. To mark the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth in 2020, the players assembled a “Beethoven’s World” program that situated the composer among his contemporaries.
The ensemble entered the recording studio for the first time in 1999 with a release containing quartets by Schubert and Janáček. Most of its discs have appeared on the Solo Musica imprint, though it has also collaborated with Telos, Bayer, and Guild, the last of which issued a 2006 collection of 20th-century Swiss quartets. Its recorded output has remained broad, stretching from the quartets of 18th-century composer Franz Xaver Richter to tango arrangements. In 2020 the quartet partnered with Fazil Say on the album Ballads & Quintets, which features compositions by both Say and Schumann.
Albums
