Schubert, String Quartet No.13 in a minor, D.804 “Rosamunde” (Mozartwoche 2000)

Within just a few years, the Hugo Wolf Quartet has transformed itself from an insider’s tip to one of the most sought-after ensembles of the younger generation. “New stars in the quartet firmament” was the headline of a review of the quartet’s debut in the Vienna Musikverein in 1995. Tours have taken the ensemble to the most important concert halls of the world: Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Philharmonie in Cologne, Megaron in Athens, Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, Symphony Hall in Birmingham and Carnegie Hall in New York. Moreover, the Hugo Wolf Quartet has also guested at the Edinburgh Festival, the Schubertiade Feldkirch, the Carinthian Summer, the Salzburg Mozarteum, the Herkules-Saal in Munich and Suntory Hall in Tokyo. The basis for this international success was laid by four students who got together in 1993 in Vienna and devoted themselves to a joint training with the Alban Berg Quartet, members of the Amadeus Quartet and Walter Levin (LaSalle Quartet). They then won the first prize at the String Quartet Competition in Cremona and made their highly acclaimed debut at the Vienna Konzerthaus. Further awards have confirmed their exceptional artistic status. Today, the Hugo Wolf Quartet consists of the founding members Jehi Bahk (Violin I), Régis Bringolf (Violin II), Florian Berner (Violoncello) and Vladimir Kossyanenko, who has been the violist of the ensemble since 1998.

Beethoven, String Quartet in F major, op.135 (Mozartwoche 2000)

The Hagen Quartet, consisting of the siblings Lukas, Veronika and Clemens Hagen along with the violinist Rainer Schmidt, attracted great attention and scored impressive successes while its members were still students at the Salzburg Mozarteum. Their international career began with their appearance at the Lockenhaus Chamber Music Festival in 1981. The quartet is now internationally known for its inspired performances, especially of works by Mozart.

Ravel, String Quartet in F major (Mozartwoche 2000)

The Hagen Quartet, consisting of the siblings Lukas, Veronika and Clemens Hagen along with the violinist Rainer Schmidt, attracted great attention and scored impressive successes while its members were still students at the Salzburg Mozarteum. Their international career began with their appearance at the Lockenhaus Chamber Music Festival in 1981. The quartet is now internationally known for its inspired performances, especially of works by Mozart. The Hagen Quartet performs Maurice Ravel’s F-major String Quartet with otherworldly sensuality while keeping it touchingly of this world.

Mozart, Clarinet Quintet in A major, K.581 (with Weber, Clarinet Quintet, Part III)(Mozartwoche 2000)

Recorded at the Salzburg “Mozartwoche” 2000, Mozart’s “Stadler Quintet” is played by the Hagen Quartet and the phenomenal clarinetist Sabine Meyer. She “enhances the dazzling splendor of the quartet with a warm and graciously noble voice”, rhapsodized one Austrian daily. Sabine Meyer took her first lessons from her father. After studying in Stuttgart and Hanover, she joined the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Following her engagement as solo clarinetist with the Berlin Philharmonic, Sabine Meyer began her solo career, which has taken her throughout the world. The Hagen Quartet, consisting of the siblings Lukas, Veronika and Clemens Hagen along with the violinist Rainer Schmidt, attracted great attention and scored impressive successes while its members were still students at the Salzburg Mozarteum. Their international career began with their appearance at the Lockenhaus Chamber Music Festival in 1981. The quartet is now internationally known for its inspired performances, especially of works by Mozart.

Mozart, Piano Quartet in G minor, K.478 (Mozartwoche 2000)

The conductor, pianist and composer André Previn was still a child when he moved with his parents from his native Berlin to the United States. For many years now he has achieved celebrity not only as conductor but also as pianist and chamber musician; in addition, he has composed many works which have been warmly received not only on the concert stage but also in opera houses (“A Streetcar Named Desire”), and in the fields of film music and jazz. Rainer Küchl was born in Waidhofen/Ybbs (Austria) and began learning the violin at the age of eleven. He completed his training in Vienna. Since 1971 he has been the concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and, since 1972, of the Hofmusikkapelle. Moreover, he guests with the Küchl Quartet, which he founded, in all major concert venues of the world. Küchl teaches at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna as well as in Japan. Günter Seifert was born in Weyer in Upper Austria. He studied violin and viola in Salzburg and later in Vienna. He has been a member of the Vienna Philharmonic since 1972. In 1978 he was named first violin of the Seifert Quartet. The “Mozartgemeinde Wien” awarded him the recording prize for Mozart interpretation in 1993. As soloist, chamber musician and member of the Vienna Philharmonic, he guests in many great concert centers of the world. Franz Bartolomey began learning the cello at the age of six and later studied in his native Vienna. In addition to his activity as solo cellist of the Vienna Philharmonic, he also plays as a soloist and chamber musician in many cities all over the world. Franz Bartolomey performs on an instrument built by David Tecchler (Rome, 1727).

Mozart, Piano Quartet in E flat major, K.493 (Mozartwoche 2000)

The conductor, pianist and composer André Previn was still a child when he moved with his parents from his native Berlin to the United States. For many years now he has achieved celebrity not only as conductor but also as pianist and chamber musician; in addition, he has composed many works which have been warmly received not only on the concert stage but also in opera houses (“A Streetcar Named Desire”), and in the fields of film music and jazz. Rainer Küchl was born in Waidhofen/Ybbs (Austria) and began learning the violin at the age of eleven. He completed his training in Vienna. Since 1971 he has been the concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and, since 1972, of the Hofmusikkapelle. Moreover, he guests with the Küchl Quartet, which he founded, in all major concert venues of the world. Küchl teaches at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna as well as in Japan. Günter Seifert was born in Weyer in Upper Austria. He studied violin and viola in Salzburg and later in Vienna. He has been a member of the Vienna Philharmonic since 1972. In 1978 he was named first violin of the Seifert Quartet. The “Mozartgemeinde Wien” awarded him the recording prize for Mozart interpretation in 1993. As soloist, chamber musician and member of the Vienna Philharmonic, he guests in many great concert centers of the world. Franz Bartolomey began learning the cello at the age of six and later studied in his native Vienna. In addition to his activity as solo cellist of the Vienna Philharmonic, he also plays as a soloist and chamber musician in many cities all over the world. Franz Bartolomey performs on an instrument built by David Tecchler (Rome, 1727).