Quatuor Elmire

The string quartet is perhaps the purest form of musical dialogue: an art of listening, breathing, and responding. With Mozart and Beethoven, the Quatuor Elmire explores two pivotal moments in the evolution of the genre: the elegant clarity of the Viennese classicist and the visionary power of his successor. Based in Paris and in residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel since 2023, the ensemble stands out for its elegance, sumptuous sound, and finely tuned collective artistry.

Beethoven – String Quartet No. 7 in F major, Op. 59 No. 1 “Rasumovsky”

This seventh quartet opens Beethoven’s “Rasumovsky” cycle and belongs to the composer’s middle period of string quartets. Expansive, often more than forty minutes long, and extraordinarily demanding, it breaks with the intimate proportions of the classical quartet to create an almost symphonic universe. Beethoven unfolds striking contrasts, lyrical depth, and remarkable technical audacity. The final movement, built on a Russian theme, pays a subtle homage to his commissioner, Count Rasumovsky.

Mozart – String Quartet nr. 14 in G major, KV 387 “Spring”

The first of the six quartets dedicated to Haydn, this work exemplifies Mozart’s mastery of balance and expressive grace. Bathed in a springlike brightness, it weaves a refined interplay of counterpoint and chromaticism, both elegant and inventive. The minuet, placed unusually as the second movement, and the fugal vivacity of the finale reveal a composer who honours tradition while opening new horizons.

Flagey, Music Chapel