Henschel Quartet
Markus Henschel, Violin
Christoph Henschel, Violin
Monika Henschel, Viola
Mathias Beyer-Karlshoj, Cello
Biography
In 1994 the Henschel siblings had the great fortune to find the ideal cello partner in Mathias Beyer-Karlshøj. In their intensive years of study with Felix Andrievsky, Thorleif Thedeen, Sergiu Celibidache, Franz Beyer, the Amadeus Quartet and later with members of the Alban Berg and La Salle Quartets the young artists were confronted with the highest international standards. The Henschel Quartet were quartet in residence at both the Aldeburgh Festival (1994) and at the Tanglewood Music Festival (1995/1996). At the latter, they were coached by the legendary musicians Louis Krasner and Eugene Lehner, who had themselves worked with composers such as Béla Bartók and Arnold Schönberg, and, who gave the quartet unique insights into the works of the Second Viennese School. In 1995 the Henschel Quartet were prize-winners of no less than five prizes at International String Quartet competitions in Evian, Banff and Salzburg for the best interpretation of works ranging from Mozart up to contemporary composers. In 1996 they won the first prize and gold medal at the coveted Osaka International String Competition. Highly acclaimed debut concerts in many of Europe's prestigious concert halls helped to firmly establish the Henschel Quartet as one of today's leading string quartets. Constant critical acclaim has led to an impressive international career.
This season’s engagements include amongst others tours of USA, China, Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, Netherlands and England. In March 2010 the Henschel Quartet has the great honour to perform for Pope Benedikt XVI in Vatican for the first time and at the Royal Spanish Palace Palacio Real on the set of the 4 Royal Stradivarius instruments for the third time. The Henschel Quartet has recently played its third BBC Proms appearance, the Premiere of a newly discovered string quintet by Max Bruch at the Wigmore Hall London, appeared at Brussels Bozar as “Cultural Ambassadors” for Germany and performed at the re-opening of the Anna-Amalia Library in Germany (UNESCO World Culture Heritage).
In addition to performances as a quartet, they also appear regularly with other musicians. Amongst those who have performed with the Henschel Quartet are members of the Amadeus Quartet, Sharon Kam, Till Fellner, Anna Gourari, Julie Kaufmann, Christian Elsner and Magdalena Kozena. Each summer the Henschel Quartet presents its own festival in the old monastery of Seligenstadt in Germany. In 2007 this festival at “Germany`s nicest open air venue” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) celebrated its 10th anniversary.
The Quartet's teaching activities takes them to major conservatories at home and abroad, to American universities as e.g. the MIT Boston, Boston Conservatory, the University of California, in Australia to the Victorian College of the Arts Melbourne and other Melbourne faculties, in England to the Dartington Summer School. In 2010 the Henschel Quartet has found an incorporated society supporting projects for the promotion of the arts. Along with the ministry of education of Bavaria the Henschel Quartet`s society in February 2010 introduces culture sponsorships by Rotary Clubs for students.
The new prize-winning CD label NEOS Music gives the Henschel Quartet carte blanche and has released Max Bruch´s newly discovered string quintet - CD of the Year 2009 on the International Music Web.
The Henschel Quartet’s recording of Beethoven String Quartet’s op 18/6 & op 127 at SONY BMG continues to receive critical acclaim from the international press.
The Quartet’s discography includes Respighi's "Il Tramonto" and selected pieces by Schulhoff with the mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kozena on the Deutsche Grammophon label (Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik). The Ginastera production was released to great critical acclaim by Gramophone. The release of Mendelssohn's Complete String Quartets on the Arte Nova/SonyBMG label was nominated for the MIDEM Awards in Cannes 2006 as well as also receiving the accolade of “Recording of the Year” 2005 by Michael Cookson on International Music Web. It was ranked No.1 in the Top 10 classical CDs on the HMV Charts in Japan in 2006 and 2007.
In 2006 the Henschel Quartet was officially appointed musical Ambassadors of the SOS Children`s Villages.
Copenhagen Artists represents Henschel Quartet in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.