Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | English | Artemis Quartet

In an expertly considered programme, the Berlin-based ensemble brought together classical revolutionaries with modern homage to shine fascinating light on the form.

A well-balanced programme drew a large crowd to Wigmore Hall for a diet of high fibre Beethoven, crunchy Bartók and, joined by young Russian pianist Anna Vinnitskaya, Schumann’s delicious Piano Quintet.

The Mozartkirche, a grand Catholic church in Biberbach, provided a somewhat reverential setting for the sixth concert in the mozart@augsburg series. It was also a distinct contrast to the elaborate Small Golden Hall in which the previous evening’s concert, “Chamber Music Pearls”, was held.

Caught completely unawares – hearing a group I wasn’t familiar with, and on a Monday evening at that – I ended up seeing the Artemis Quartet give the best performance of any kind that I’ve experienced in quite a while.

In their sold-out all Beethoven concert at the Wigmore Hall, the two violinists of the Artemis Quartet switched places during the interval. Gregor Sigl played first violin in the op.18-4 and op. 135 quartets, and after the interval Natalia Prishepenko led in the popular Razumovsky No. 1 quartet.