The Artis Quartet (AQ), founded in 1980, has remained active for over 40 years. Now, they have revealed that they are going to retire in 2025.
The group includes violinists Johannes Meissl and Peter Schuhmayer, violist Herbert Kefer, and cellist Othmar Müller.
Artis Quartet posted on their Facebook page, "We think it is time to officially announce that the members of the Artis Quartet have decided to disband after a long and prosperous career of 45 YEARS at the end of 2025! We are looking forward to play for our audiences until the very final and last bar!"
Since then, AQ has been performing and recording works from the late 19th and early 20th century, focusing on the repertory of the first Viennese School. The quartet has produced over 40 CDs for Nimbus Records, Sony Classical, CBS/Sony, Orfeo, Accord, Koch/Schwann, and Camerata Tokyo.
Their awards include the Wiener Flÿ-Tenuhr, the Midem Classical Award, the Echo Klassik, the Indie Award, the Grand Prix International Du Disque/Academie Charles Cros, the Prix Caecilia, and the Diapason D'or.
Since 1988, AQ has maintained a residence at the Wiener Musikverein, where they have enjoyed performing concerts solely devoted to one composer.
In 1985, AQ began its international career, giving performances in places like Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, Suntory Hall, International Forum Tokyo, Konzerthaus Berlin, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and Teatro Colon Buenos Aires.
The group also performed at international festivals, including Beethoven Festival, Ravinia, Berlin Festwochen, Schleswig-Holstein Festival, Salzburger Festspiele, Wiener Festwochen, and Berliner Festwochen.
As an advocate for modern art, AQ has presented premieres of works by A. Zemlinsky, Helmut Eder, Erich Urbanner, Thomas Pernes, Thomas Larcher, Gerhard Schedl, Haimo Wisser, Wolfgang Kubizek, Alfred Huber, Harry Pepl, Tania Gabrielle French, Antonio Pino Vargas, and more.
