News
Can you hear crisis?
BBC Music Magazine:
“… the playing is exquisitely judged, shifting between fragility and strength, alienation and familiarity. The recorded sound is intimate, creating compelling sonic affinities.”
Tagesspiegel: Kann man die Krise hören?
Radio Ö1: “Dem Kuss Quartett ist damit ein so interessantes wie berührendes Konzeptalbum gelungen. Es zeigt, welche Kraft und Relevanz, aber auch tröstende Wirkung Musik entfalten kann, wenn sie aus persönlichen, politischen oder thematischen Zwängen entsteht.”
NDR /Christoph Vratz:
“Dem Kuss Quartett ist eine thematisch aufschlussreiche, künstlerisch sehr differenzierte Einspielung gelungen, die durch ihre stilistische Vielfalt überzeugt. Es gibt immer noch Formen der Krise, die einen optimistisch stimmen.“
“CRISIS”
—–COMING SOON—-
From ‘free time’ (our last album was called ‘Berlin FREETime’) to ‘CRISIS’ … For after the cultural wasteland of the pandemic years of 2020/21, we are forced to acknowledge that our lives in the societies we live and work in aren’t looking much better. Instead of the new freedom we had hoped for and the blossoming of new artistic collaborations in a happier time free of cares and worries, war in Europe broke out, to the alarm and consternation of us all, bringing destruction, terror and death as well as massive issues.
Krise/Crisis draws upon music composed over the past 250 years that embraces emotional turmoil, suffering, and psychological stresses. Some of the music was composed during periods of deep personal trauma for the composers which include, Haydn, Shostakovich, Mendelssohn, Janacek, Schubert, Bartok and more. This is music for our troubled times.
Recorded on the label Rubicon Classics the album is available as a digital version at the end of November and as a physical version from January 2023.
The works by Birke Bertelsmeier and Francesco Ciurlo benefited from the sponsorship of the German Music Competition. Óscar Escudero’s work received concept funding from the State of Lower Saxony as part of the Musik21 programme. The project as a whole is the recipient of a grant from the German Federal Cultural Foundation. Our production partner was Bavarian Broadcasting.
Many thanks to them all!
Next concerts
Unfortunately, our live performances are still very limited, the first time we can be together on stage is June 14th at the Konzerthaus Dortmund. Together with our friends from Nico & the Navigators the program “NOW — Force and Freedom, Beethoven Variations in Corona Times” will be performed. We are very grateful that the Konzerthaus Dortmund is a partner in at least a partial realization of our special Beethoven project.
Further concerts in Hanover, at Schloss Elmau and at the Hitzacker Summer Music Festival are still planned,but have not yet been finally decided / confirmed. We will keep you up to date and hope that we can provide you with more good news and of course live music again soon.
Yours sincerely, the Kuss Quartet
“Force and Freedom” — digital version
Together with the Kuss Quartet, the ensemble Nico and the Navigators wanted to contribute to the Beethoven year 2020 an extraordinary performance on various european stages: the title was “Force and Freedom”, they wanted «music in the existential tension between external constraints and inner freedom with its indissoluble contrast between explore subjective desires and objective reality in which Beethoven had to move and assert throughout his life. »
The premiere would have taken place on May 1, 2020 as part of the Schwetzingen SWR Festival, further performances were planned at Kissinger Sommer, the Konzerthaus Dortmund, at BOZAR Brussels and Radialsystem Berlin.
On March 18, 2020, rehearsals had to be stop at the Berlin Ufer studios, the premiere on May 1, 2020, together with the entire Schwetzingen Festival, has been canceled and is now postponed to next year.
At the beginning of April, however, an online project was initiated, which is based on the work on Force and Freedom and in addition to the questions asked there, also negotiates the current restrictions on life. In short, fast or meditative clips, which are based on the complete recording of all Beethoven Quartets, individual miniatures of the artists are put together, which as a growing digital diary are small memories such as time capsules or reminiscences of the present situation of social distancing.
“It is a technique beyond the usual streaming: the choice of the pieces and the cut of the scenes put the snapshots in context and develop a whole, a digital staging out of fragments. This method cannot replace the common experience of a physical performance. Rather, the work is an expression of the individual’s longing for each other, which should be preserved as a lasting experience from this crisis. ”
The individual sequences can already be followed on social media. The entire diary you can watch HERE.
At the end of this path there is an extraordinary memory game, which can be put together from a selection of a total of 29 clips. If you find the right solution, you can take part in the raffle of tickets at Schwetzinger Festspiele 2021!
Digital Lockdown-Memory Game
The Memory-Game, where one can win tickets for the Schwetzinger Festspiele 2021, is now online. Good Luck!
Kuss @IDAGIO Live
The Kuss Quartet is invited at IDAGIO Live for a little series with four episodes starting April 29th — alongside with artists like Iván Fischer, Kirill Gerstein, Thomas Hampson and others, presenting their recordings, musical ideas and insights on the Classical Streaming App.
Every Wednesday from 7 pm: CLICK
Out Now! All Beethoven Quartets Live from Suntory Hall
We are immensely happy to present you the result from many years of our quartet life.
Finally, the CD box with 8 CDs have just been released at Rubicon Classics.
Many thanks to our sound engineer Dirk Fischer, the Nippon Music Fondation for the loan of the Stradivari quartet, to the Henle Verlag for the Urtext material, to the Suntory Hall Tokyo for the great cooperation and many numerous helpers, supporters and sponsors.
We wish our audience lot of joy and pleasure at their homes while listening to the album!
Available here:
Amazon UK
Prestoclassical
IDAGIO, Spotify und iTunes
Concerts cancelled
Dear friends, dear fans,
unfortunately we have to let you know that our concerts in Warstein, Paderborn, Kleve as well as Hameln and Amsterdam have been canceled or postponed. The coronavirus pandemic has reached Germany as well.
If you like, you can purchase our new CD, which will be released on March 27th and at least listen to our Beethoven cycle at home! We hope for better times soon, stay healthy and safe,
best regards from the Kuss Quartet
Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s Piano Quintet with Olga Scheps
The new album with pianist Olga Scheps has just been released by Sony Classical.
The first review at RBB Kultur is very positive and compares it to the recording of the famous Borodin Quartet and Weinberg himself.
Highlights 2019/20
The Kuss Quartet continues performing Beethovens String Quartet cycle in the upcoming season, which they will perform in several concerts in October & March in Hanover. Furthermore, the ensemble appears twice at Wigmore Hall London, at the Quartet Biennale in Paris and at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam as well as in many other cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Kiel, Dannenberg. Siegen, Kleve, Paderborn, Heiligendamm and Schloss Elmau.
The four of them are delighted about the invitation by Hungarian pianist Dénes Várjon to his chamber music festival in November 2019 in Budapest, where they will perform with Várjon himself and again with cellist Miklós Perényi.
The intense collaboration with Nico & the Navigators will be continued for the Beethoven project “Force & Freedom” with its premiere at the Schwetzinger Festspiele in May 2020.
Further performances will take place at Konzerthaus Dortmund, Palais de Beaux-Arts Brussels and at the Kissinger Sommer Festival. All details and links can be found HERE.
Concerts
Concerts
UPCOMING
Aug 2023
Hitzacker
03/08/2023 14:02
Mozart: Streichquintett C‑Dur für zwei Violinen, zwei Violen und Violoncello KV 515
mit Tomoko Akasaka
@VERDO
Hitzacker
04/08/2023 20:08
Mozart: Streichquintett Quintett B‑Dur für zwei Violinen, zwei Violen und Violoncello KV 174
Mark Andre (*1964): Sieben Stücke für Streichquartett (2022)
Mozart: Streichquintett Es-Dur für zwei Violinen, zwei Violen und Violoncello KV 614
Hitzacker
06/08/2023 11:11
Birke Jasmin Bertelsmeier (*1981): Krise (2021 für das Kuss Quartett)
Mozart: Streichquintett D‑Dur für zwei Violinen, zwei Violen und Violoncello KV 593
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Streichquintett g‑Moll für zwei Violinen, zwei Violen und Violoncello KV 516
mit Garth Knox, Viola
ARCHIVE
May 2023
Apr 2023
Paris
24/04/2023 20:00
W.A. Mozart, String Quartet No. 19 KV465 “Dissonanzenquartett”
L. van Beethoven: String Quartet Op.131
@Goethe-Institut
Appenzell
14/04/2023 19:30
Joseph Haydn: «Introduzione» aus Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze
Franz Schubert: aus dem Quartett «Der Tod und das Mädchen» — Scherzo. Allegro molto
Dmitri Schostakowitsch: aus dem Quartett Nr.8 op. 110 — 1.Satz Largo
Birke Bertelsmeier: Krise
Bedřich Smetana: Finale aus dem Quartett Nr.1 «Aus meinem Leben»
Leoš Janáček: Streichquartett Nr.1 «Kreutzersonate»
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: aus dem «Dissonanzenquartett» — 1.Satz Adagio — Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett cis-Moll op. 131
@Kunstmuseum
Mar 2023
Duisburg
26/03/2023 19:00
Werke von Ludwig van Beethoven, George Aperghis, Manfred Trojahn, Helmut Lachenmann, György Kurtág, Johannes Fischer, Paul Hindemith, Frederic Rzewski, Iannis Xenakis und Thomas Adès
mit Bas Böttcher (Slam Poetry) & Johannes Fischer (Percussion)
Philharmonie Mercatorhalle
Mannheim
08/03/2023 19:00
Russian Album: Peter Tschaikowsky, Alfred Schnittke und Igor Strawinsky
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett Nr. 8 e‑Moll op. 59 Nr. 2
@Anna-Reiß-Saal
Heilbronn
07/03/2023 19:30
Armenische, georgische und russische Miniaturen
Igor Strawinsky: 3 Stücke für Streichquartett (1914)
Concertino für Streichquartett (1920)
Peter I. Tschaikowsky: Andante cantabile aus: Streichquartett Nr. 1 D‑Dur op. 11
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett Nr. 8 e‑Moll op. 59/2 (Rasumowsky Quartett)
Jan 2023
Gauting
25/01/2023 20:00
Beethoven: Streichquartett B‑Dur, op. 18 Nr. 6
Dowland: If my complaints could passions move
Adson: Adson’s Ayre | The Furies
Coperario: Gray’s Inn
Van Eyck: The English Nightingale (aus dem “Fluyten Lust-hof”)
ter Schiphorst „Sei gutes Muts“ für Blockflöte & Streichquartett
Bernstein: Variations on an Octatonic Scale für Blockflöte und Violoncello (1989)
Weidemann: Sonata F‑Dur op. 3 Nr. 3 für Blockflöte & zwei Violinen
Vivaldi: Concerto D‑Dur für Blockflöte & Streicher, RV 375
mit Maurice Steger, Blockflöte
Dec 2022
Hamburg
12/12/2022 20:00
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Streichquartett f‑Moll op. 80
Streichoktett Es-Dur op. 20 (mit dem casal Quartett)
@Laeiszhalle
Nov 2022
Hannover
10/11/2022 20:00
Carter & Mozart
mit Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Klavier
NDR Landesfunkhaus, Kleiner Sendesaal
Oct 2022
Biella
14/10/2022 20:45
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Streichquartett Nr. 19 C‑Dur KV 465 ”Dissonanzen-Quartett”
Kuss Quartett: “Surprise”
Franz Schubert: Streichquintett C‑Dur D 956 op. posth. 163 (1828?)
@Accademia Perosi
Sep 2022
Frankfurt
17/09/2022 17:00
Sebastian Manz, Klarinette
Cédric Pescia, Klavier
Eva Mattes, Sprecherin
Ulrich Noethen, Sprecher
Volker Hagedorn, Text und szenische Einrichtung
@Alte Oper Frankfurt
Halberstadt
16/09/2022 18:00
Joseph Haydn: Streichquartett C‑Dur Hob. III:32 op. 20/2
Ludwig van Beethoven: Große Fuge B‑Dur op. 133 für Streichquartett
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Streichquartett Nr. 19 C‑Dur KV 465 ”Dissonanzen-Quartett”
@Rathaus
Aug 2022
Hitzacker
02/08/2022 20:08
Johannes Brahms: Quintett G‑Dur für zwei Violinen, zwei Violen und Violoncello, op. 111
Mark Andre (Uraufführung)
with Kim Kaskhashian, Viola
@VERDO Konzertsaal
Hitzacker
01/08/2022 20:08
Werke von Mozart und Carter
with Pierre-Lauren Aimard, Piano
@VERDO Konzertsaal
Jul 2022
Hitzacker
30/07/2022 15:03
Kokon (Uraufführung) – Mit Werken von Poppe, Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Fischer, Trojahn u.a.
Bas Böttcher – Slam Poetry
Yui Kawaguchi – Choreografie, Tanz
Ruben Reniers – Tanz
Johannes Fischer – Schlagzeug und Komposition
Kuss Quartett – Streichquartett
@VERDO Konzertsaal
Jun 2022
Reggio Emilia
10/06/2022 21:00
Mozart: Streichquartett C‑Dur Nr. 19 KV 465 “Dissonanzen”
Schubert: Streichquartett Nr. 14 “Der Tod und das Mädchen”
@Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Pietro
Masterclass Reggio Emilia
06/06/2022 — 11/06/2022 Ganztägig
May 2022
Gailingen
01/05/2022 17:00
Mozart: Dissonanzenquartett
Schubert: Streichquartett d‑Moll
@Hochrheinhalle
Apr 2022
Hannover
24/04/2022 20:00
Klangbrücken Festival
Joseph Haydn: Introduktion aus »Die Sieben Letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze«
Francesco Cuirlo: »HASTA PULVERIZARSE LOS OJOS (UA)«
Joseph Haydn: Mich dürstet, aus »Die Sieben Letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze«
Franz Schubert: Scherzo aus »Der Tod und das Mädchen«
Béla Bartók: aus »Streichquartett Nr. 6«, 1. Satz, Mesto
Dmitri Schostakowitsch: aus »Streichquartett Nr. 8«, 1. Satz Largo
Birke Bertelmeier: »KRISE« (UA)
Leos Janacek: »Streichquartett Nr. 1«, »Kreutzersonate«
Felix Mendelssohn Bartzholdy: aus »Streichquartett Nr. 6« op.80, Adagio
Younghi Pagh-Paan: »Im Glanz des Sonnenuntergangs«
Mar 2022
Jan 2022
AMSTERDAM
19/01/2022 20:15
Enno Poppe: Freizeit
Ludwig v. Beethoven: Op. 59/3
Ludwig v. Beethoven: Op. 135
Bruno Mantovani: Beethoveniana
@Concertgebouw
SIEGEN
17/01/2022 20:00
Poppe: “Freizeit”
Herchenröder: Poems and Variations
Mantovani: “Beethoveniana”
Beethoven: Streichquartett Nr.9 C‑Dur op. 59/3
KOBLENZ
16/01/2022 18:00
Poppe: “Freizeit”
Beethoven: Streichquartett Nr. 9 C‑Dur op. 59/3
Streichquartett Nr. 16 F‑Dur op. 135
Mantovani: “Beethoveniana”
MANNHEIM
14/01/2022 21:00
Herchenröder: Poems and Variations
Poppe: “Freizeit”
Reimann: 7 Bagatellen au “Die schönen Augen der Frühlingsnacht”
Mantovani: “Beethoveniana”
Kurtág: Officium Breve
MANNHEIM
14/01/2022 19:30
Herchenröder: Poems and Variations
Poppe: “Freizeit”
Reimann: 7 Bagatellen au “Die schönen Augen der Frühlingsnacht”
Mantovani: “Beethoveniana”
Kurtág: Officium Breve
Dec 2021
WOLFSBURG
15/12/2021 20:00
Francesco Rognoni da Taeggio: Divisions on Vestiva i colli
John Coperario: Al folgorante sguardo
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett Nr. 6 in B‑Dur op. 18, Nr. 6
Antonio Vivaldi: Flautiono-Concerto „Il Gardellino“ in D‑Dur RV 428
with Maurice Steger, recorder
@Scharoun Theater
Nov 2021
HELMSTEDT
28/11/2021 19:00
Renaissancemusik von Dowland, van Eyck & Cooper
Vivaldi Concerto D Dur, RRV 375
Schubert Streichquartett G Dur
Iris ter Schiphorst (*1956): Sei gutes Muts (2021)
with Maurice Steger, recorder
@Juleum
HELMSTEDT
28/11/2021 16:00
Renaissancemusik von Dowland, van Eyck & Cooper
Vivaldi Concerto D Dur, RRV 375
Schubert Streichquartett G Dur
Iris ter Schiphorst (*1956): Sei gutes Muts (2021)
with Maurice Steger, recorder
@Juleum
DORTMUND
02/11/2021 20:15
Force & Freedom
Ludwig van Beethoven Große Fuge für Streichquartett B‑Dur op. 133
Ludwig van Beethoven Streichquartett F‑Dur op. 135
mit Nico & the Navigators
Konzerthaus
Oct 2021
DUISBURG
24/10/2021 19:00
Poppe: „Freizeit“ für Streichquartett
Beethoven: Streichquartett a‑Moll op. 132
Schubert: Streichquintett C‑Dur D 956
with Miklós Perényi, Cello
WARSTEIN
22/10/2021 19:30
Beethoven, Kurtág, Lachenmann, Bach, Thomas Adés, Elliot Carter, George Benjamin
with Bas Böttcher
Sep 2021
BINGEN
18/09/2021 20:00
Aug 2021
HITZACKER
02/08/2021 20:00
Iris ter Schiphorst (*1956): Auftragswerk der SMH für Blockflöte und Streichquartett (Uraufführung)
F. Schubert: Streichquartett G‑Dur
mit Maurice Steger, Blockflöte
BAD SOBERNHEIM
01/08/2021 18:00
Eröffnungskonzert
Schubert: Streichquartett G‑Dur D810
Widmann: 1. Quartett
Matthiaskirche
Jul 2021
HITZACKER
31/07/2021 16:00
Silent Songs into the wild – Staged Concert um Franz Schubert im Hier und Jetzt
Sommerliche Musiktage Hitzacker
MARVAO (PRT)
28/07/2021 16:00
Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 18,3
Bruno Mantovani: “Beethoveniana”
Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 135
@Festival Internacional de Musica de Marvao
WEENER (Gezeitenkonzerte)
20/07/2021 20:00
Dowland, Birtwistle, van Eyck, Vivaldi, Beethoven u.a.
mit Maurice Steger, Blockflöte
WEENER (Gezeitenkonzerte)
20/07/2021 17:00
Dowland, Birtwistle, van Eyck, Vivaldi, Beethoven u.a.
mit Maurice Steger, Blockflöte
Jun 2021
Cyprus
25/06/2021 20:30
Streichquartett op. 18/6
Streichquartett Nr. 16 F‑Dur op. 135
Streichquartett Nr. 8 e‑Moll op. 59/2
May 2021
Schwetzingen — POSTPONED
29/05/2021 19:00
“Force & Freedom”
with Nico & the Navigators
@Rokoko-Theater
SWR Schwetzinger Festspiele
Hall in Tirol
25/05/2021 20:00
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett Nr. 3 D‑Dur, op. 18,3
Franz Schubert: Der Tod und das Mädchen, Streichquartett Nr. 14, d‑moll, op. post., D 810
György Kurtág: Officium breve in memoriam Andreae Szervánszky, op. 28
Kurhaus Hall
Mar 2021
Bolzano — Streaming Concert
21/03/2021 20:00
W.A. Mozart: Jagd-Quartett KV 458
Enno Poppe. “Freizeit”
Kurtag: Officium breve
L.v. Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 135
Konservatorium Bolzano
Dec 2020
“Force & Freedom” @ARTE Concert
21/12/2020 20:00
Beethoven
Künstlerische Leitung Nicola Hümpel
Bühne Oliver Proske
Dramaturgie Andreas Hillger
Kostüm Nicola Hümpel und Anna Lechner
Von und mit Kuss Quartett
Violine Jana Kuss und Oliver Wille
Viola William Coleman
Violoncello Mikayel Hakhnazaryan
Gitarre und musikalische Adaptionen Tobias Weber
Tanz und Choreografie Yui Kawaguchi
Tenor und Performer Ted Schmitz
Performer Patric Schott
Künstlerische Mitarbeit Alexander Piasente
Lichtdesign Andreas Fuchs
Live Video Editing Hendrik Fritze und Sophie Krause
Bühnenbild Assistenz Sonja Winkler
Produktion Raphael Reher und Leonie Schirra
Filmregie Nicola Hümpel und Myriam Hoyer
Schnitt Arno Scholwin
Nov 2020
Gailingen — CANCELLED
22/11/2020 17:00
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett Nr. 8 e‑Moll op. 59/2
Enno Poppe: “Freizeit” für Streichquartett
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett Nr. 16 F‑Dur op. 135
@Hochrheinhalle
Bingen am Rhein — CANCELLED
21/11/2020 19:30
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett e‑Moll op. 59/2 ”Rasumowsky-Quartett“
Enno Poppe (*1969): “Freizeit”
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett F‑Dur op. 135
@Villa Sachsen
Koblenz — CANCELLED
06/11/2020 20:00
Ludwig van Beethoven:
Streichquartett Nr. 9 C‑Dur op. 59 Nr. 3
Streichquartett Nr. 14 cis-Moll op. 131
@Rhein-Mosel-Halle Koblenz
Oct 2020
Celle
18/10/2020 17:00
“Kuss plus… — “percussion & slam poetry”
with Johannes Fischer (percussion) and Bas Böttcher (slam poetry)
Bach, Beethoven, Fischer, Kurtag, Poppe, Xenakis u.a.
Kiel
12/10/2020 19:00
Ludwig van Beethoven:
Streichquartett B‑Dur op. 18, Nr. 6
Streichquartett F‑Dur op. 135
Streichquartett C‑Dur op. 59, Nr. 3
@Kieler Schloss
Aug 2020
HITZACKER
01/08/2020 20:00
Beethoven! – Works by Beethoven, Mantovani, Fischer and others
with Johannes Fischer, Percussion
Jun 2020
ELMAU
26/06/2020 11:00
Beethoven: Streichquartett F‑Dur op. 135
Beethoven: Streichquartett C‑Dur op. 59 Nr. 3
Schloss Elmau
KISSINGER SOMMER — POSTPONED
25/06/2020 20:00
Force & Freedom I with Nico and the Navigators
Ludwig van Beethoven: Große Fuge für Streichquartett B‑Dur op. 133
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett F‑Dur op. 135
@ Kurtheater
ELMAU
25/06/2020 17:00
Beethoven: Streichquartett F‑Dur op. 135
Beethoven: Streichquartett C‑Dur op. 59 Nr. 3
Schloss Elmau
HANNOVER
22/06/2020 19:30
Force & Freedom I with Nico and the Navigators
Ludwig van Beethoven: Große Fuge für Streichquartett B‑Dur op. 133
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett F‑Dur op. 135
@ Orangerie Schloss Herrenhausen
HANNOVER
21/06/2020 19:30
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett A‑Dur op. 18,5
Streichquartett e‑Moll op. 59,2
Streichquartett cis-Moll op. 131
@ Orangerie, Schloss Herrenhausen
DORTMUND
14/06/2020 18:00
JETZT – FORCE & FREEDOM: BEETHOVEN-VARIATIONEN IN CORONAZEITEN
Ludwig van Beethoven: Große Fuge für Streichquartett B‑Dur op. 133
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett F‑Dur op. 135
@ Konzerthaus Dortmund
BRÜSSEL — POSTPONED
12/06/2020 20:00
Force & Freedom I with Nico and the Navigators
Ludwig van Beethoven: Große Fuge für Streichquartett B‑Dur op. 133
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett F‑Dur op. 135
@ Palais des Beaux-Arts
May 2020
HEILIGENDAMM — POSTPONED
16/05/2020 18:00
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett B‑Dur Op. 18 Nr. 6, F‑Dur Op.135, Op. 59 Nr. 3
Grand Hotel Heiligendamm
KIEL — POSTPONED
15/05/2020 19:00
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett B‑Dur Op. 18 Nr. 6, F‑Dur Op.135, Op. 59 Nr. 3
Kieler Schloss, Kleiner Saal
SCHWETZINGER FESTSPIELE
03/05/2020 18:00
Force & Freedom I with Nico and the Navigators
Ludwig van Beethoven: Große Fuge für Streichquartett B‑Dur op. 133
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett F‑Dur op. 135
@ Schloss, Schwetzingen
SCHWETZINGER FESTSPIELE
01/05/2020 19:00
Force & Freedom I with Nico and the Navigators
Ludwig van Beethoven: Große Fuge für Streichquartett B‑Dur op. 133
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett F‑Dur op. 135
@ Schloss, Schwetzingen
Apr 2020
AMSTERDAM — CANCELLED
06/04/2020 20:15
Poppe: “Freizeit”
Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 59/1
B. Mantovani — “Beethoveniana”
Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 135
@Concertgebouw
Mar 2020
Feb 2020
SIEGEN
06/02/2020 20:00
Aribert Reimann: 7 Bagatellen für Streichquartett (2017)
Enno Poppe: “Freizeit” für Streichquartett
Martin Herchenröder: „Poems and Variations“
Bruno Mantovani: Streichquartett Nr. 6 “Beethoveniana” (2018)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Streichquartett Nr. 14 cis-Moll op. 131
Apollo-Theater Siegen I20h00
LIVERPOOL
02/02/2020 Ganztägig
Beethoven: String Quartet in D, Op.18 No.3
György Kurtág: Officium breve
Beethoven: String Quartet in C sharp minor, Op 131
@St George’s Hall Concert Room I 14h30
Jan 2020
PARIS
13/01/2020 19:00
Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 59/1
Bruno Mantovani: “Beethoveniana” String Quartet Biennale
Philharmonie de Paris
Nov 2019
WORPSWEDE
18/11/2019 20:00
Ludwig van Beethoven:
Streichquartett op. 18/1
Streichquartett op. 130/ op.133 (Große Fuge)
BUDAPEST
11/11/2019 — 18/11/2019 Ganztägig
@Kamara.hu Festival (Artistic Director: Dénes Várjon & Izabella Simon)
Oct 2019
HANNOVER
20/10/2019 15:00
Beethoven: String Quartets Op. 18/4 C Minor, Op. 74 E flat Major,
Op. 130 B Major with Große Fuge Op. 133
@Orangerie Herrenhausen, 15h00
HANNOVER
20/10/2019 11:00
Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 95 F Minor, Op. 127 E flat Major
@Orangerie Herrenhausen, 11h00
HANNOVER
19/10/2019 18:00
Beethoven:
String Quartets Op. 18/3 D Major, Op. 59/1 F Major, Op. 18/1 F Major
Mantovani: Beethoveniana (German Premiere)
@Orangerie Herrenhausen, 18h00
Sep 2019
DANNENBERG
21/09/2019 13:00
WEIKERSHEIM
07/09/2019 20:00
Enno Poppe. Freizeit
Mozart: String Quartet B‑Dur K458
Reimann: 7 Bagatelles for
Schumann: Piano Quintet Op. 44 with Dirk Mommertz
Schloss Weikersheim
Aug 2019
RHEINGAU MUSIKFESTIVAL
13/08/2019 20:00
Enno Poppe: „Freizeit“ für Streichquartett (2016)
Beethoven: Quartett für zwei Violinen, Viola und Violoncello Nr. 9 C‑Dur op. 59,3
Schubert: Quintett für zwei Violinen, Viola und zwei Violoncelli C‑Dur D 956 op. post. 163
mit Benedict Kloeckner, Violoncello
Jul 2019
SOMMERLICHE MUSIKTAGE HITZACKER
27/07/2019 16:00
Aribert Reimann: „Die schönen Augen der Frühlingsnacht“
Sechs Lieder für Sopran und Streichquartett von Theodor Kirchner nach Gedichten von Heinrich Heine, bearbeitet und verbunden mit Sieben Bagatellen für Streichquartett
Arnold Schönberg: Streichquartett Nr. 2 fis-Moll op. 10
mit Sarah Maria Sun, Sopran
VERDO, 16h00
GEZEITEN FESTIVAL
25/07/2019 20:00
Aribert Reimann (*1936): Ollea — Vier Gedichte von Heinrich Heine für Sopran solo
„Die schönen Augen der Frühlingsnacht“
Arnold Schönberg: Streichquartett Nr. 2 fis-Moll op. 10 mit Sopranstimme
mit Sarah Maria Sun, Sopran
Aribert Reimann (Moderation)
Raoul-Philip Schmidt (Moderation)
Jun 2019
TOKYO
13/06/2019 19:00
The Beethoven Cycle V
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 14 in C‑sharp Minor, Op. 131
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135
Mantovani: Quatuor à cordes N°6, “Beethoveniana” (World Premiere, co-commissioned)
@ Suntory Hall I 19h00
TOKYO
11/06/2019 19:00
The Beethoven Cycle IV
String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132
String Quartet No. 13 in B‑flat Major, Op. 130, “Grosse Fuge”
@ Suntory Hall I 19h00
TOKYO
08/06/2019 19:00
The Beethoven Cycle III
String Quartet No. 10 in E‑flat Major, Op. 74, “Harp”
String Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 95, “Serioso”
String Quartet No. 12 in E‑flat Major, Op. 127
@ Suntory Hall I 19h00
TOKYO
05/06/2019 19:00
The Beethoven Cycle II
String Quartet No. 7 in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1, “Razumovsky No. 1”
String Quartet No. 8 in E Minor, Op. 59, No. 2, “Razumovsky No. 2”
String Quartet No. 9 in C Major, Op. 59, No. 3, “Razumovsky No. 3”
@Suntory Hall I 19h00
TOKYO
02/06/2019 14:00
The Beethoven Cycle I
String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 18, No. 3
String Quartet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2
String Quartet No. 1 in F Major, Op. 18, No. 1
String Quartet No. 5 in A Major, Op. 18, No. 5
String Quartet No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 18, No. 4
String Quartet No. 6 in B‑flat Major, Op. 18, No. 6
@ Suntory Hall I 14h00
May 2019
ORLÉANS
21/05/2019 20:30
Beethoven: Streichquartette Op. 59, Nr. 1, 2 & 3
La Scène nationale d’Orléans, 20h30
Apr 2019
INNSBRUCK
30/04/2019 20:00
Igor Strawinski — Concertino für Streichquartett
Pjotr Iljitsch Tschaikowski — Auswahl aus dem „Kinderalbum“ für Klavier op. 39 (Fassungen für Streichquartett)
Igor Strawinski — Drei Stücke für Streichquartett
Sulchan Tsintsadze — Georgische Miniaturen
Komitas Vardapet — Armenische Miniaturen
Ludwig van Beethoven — Streichquartett Nr. 9 C‑Dur op. 59/3
@ Tiroler Landeskonservatorium | 20h00
AHRENSBURG
28/04/2019 20:00
Streichquartette von Beethoven
@ Eduard-Söring-Saal Stormanschule Ahrensburg | 20h00
Mar 2019
ICKING
23/03/2019 15:00
“Klangwelt Klassik”
Aribert Reimann — 7 Bagatellen (2017)
Ludwig van Beethoven — Nr. 16 F‑Dur op. 135
Ludwig van Beethoven — Nr. 15 a‑Moll op. 132
@ Konzertsaal Rainer-Maria-Rilke Gymnasium | 19h30
ICKING
22/03/2019 19:30
Ludwig van Beethoven / György Kurtág / Ludwig van Beethoven
György Kurtág / Helmut Lachenmann / Johann Sebastian Bach / Thomas Adès
Elliott Carter / György Kurtág / Ludwig van Beethoven
@ Konzertsaal Rainer-Maria-Rilke Gymnasium | 19h30
Feb 2019
Jan 2019
BERLIN
28/01/2019 20:00
@ watergate — Klassik Lounge, kulturradio rbb
mit Olga Scheps, Klavier I 20h00
Dec 2018
HAMBURG
08/12/2018 19:30
Johannes Brahms — Streichquartett B‑Dur op. 67
Aribert Reimann — Sieben Bagatellen für Streichquartett
Enno Poppe — »Freizeit« für Streichquartett
Ludwig van Beethoven — Streichquartett a‑Moll op. 132
@ Elbphilharmonie, Kleiner Saal | 19h30
Nov 2018
HANNOVER
09/11/2018 20:00
Johannes Brahms: Streichquartett B‑Dur op. 67
Manfred Trojahn: 5. Streichquartett (Uraufführung)
@Sendesaal des NDR I 20h00
Oct 2018
HANNOVER
22/10/2018 — 23/10/2018 Ganztägig
Mozart/Beethoven: Streichquintette mit Finalisten des Joseph-Joachim Violinwettbewerbs
WEIDEN
05/10/2018 19:30
Max-Reger Tage
Max Reger — Streichquartett Es-Dur, op. 109
Ludwig van Beethoven — Streichquartett Nr. 14, cis-Moll, op. 131
@ Sparkasse Oberpfalz Nord, Weiden | 19h30
Sep 2018
Jul 2018
Jun 2018
May 2018
Mar 2018
Feb 2018
News
Can you hear crisis?
BBC Music Magazine:
“… the playing is exquisitely judged, shifting between fragility and strength, alienation and familiarity. The recorded sound is intimate, creating compelling sonic affinities.”
Tagesspiegel: Kann man die Krise hören?
Radio Ö1: “Dem Kuss Quartett ist damit ein so interessantes wie berührendes Konzeptalbum gelungen. Es zeigt, welche Kraft und Relevanz, aber auch tröstende Wirkung Musik entfalten kann, wenn sie aus persönlichen, politischen oder thematischen Zwängen entsteht.”
NDR /Christoph Vratz:
“Dem Kuss Quartett ist eine thematisch aufschlussreiche, künstlerisch sehr differenzierte Einspielung gelungen, die durch ihre stilistische Vielfalt überzeugt. Es gibt immer noch Formen der Krise, die einen optimistisch stimmen.“
“CRISIS”
—–COMING SOON—-
From ‘free time’ (our last album was called ‘Berlin FREETime’) to ‘CRISIS’ … For after the cultural wasteland of the pandemic years of 2020/21, we are forced to acknowledge that our lives in the societies we live and work in aren’t looking much better. Instead of the new freedom we had hoped for and the blossoming of new artistic collaborations in a happier time free of cares and worries, war in Europe broke out, to the alarm and consternation of us all, bringing destruction, terror and death as well as massive issues.
Krise/Crisis draws upon music composed over the past 250 years that embraces emotional turmoil, suffering, and psychological stresses. Some of the music was composed during periods of deep personal trauma for the composers which include, Haydn, Shostakovich, Mendelssohn, Janacek, Schubert, Bartok and more. This is music for our troubled times.
Recorded on the label Rubicon Classics the album is available as a digital version at the end of November and as a physical version from January 2023.
The works by Birke Bertelsmeier and Francesco Ciurlo benefited from the sponsorship of the German Music Competition. Óscar Escudero’s work received concept funding from the State of Lower Saxony as part of the Musik21 programme. The project as a whole is the recipient of a grant from the German Federal Cultural Foundation. Our production partner was Bavarian Broadcasting.
Many thanks to them all!
Next concerts
Unfortunately, our live performances are still very limited, the first time we can be together on stage is June 14th at the Konzerthaus Dortmund. Together with our friends from Nico & the Navigators the program “NOW — Force and Freedom, Beethoven Variations in Corona Times” will be performed. We are very grateful that the Konzerthaus Dortmund is a partner in at least a partial realization of our special Beethoven project.
Further concerts in Hanover, at Schloss Elmau and at the Hitzacker Summer Music Festival are still planned,but have not yet been finally decided / confirmed. We will keep you up to date and hope that we can provide you with more good news and of course live music again soon.
Yours sincerely, the Kuss Quartet
“Force and Freedom” — digital version
Together with the Kuss Quartet, the ensemble Nico and the Navigators wanted to contribute to the Beethoven year 2020 an extraordinary performance on various european stages: the title was “Force and Freedom”, they wanted «music in the existential tension between external constraints and inner freedom with its indissoluble contrast between explore subjective desires and objective reality in which Beethoven had to move and assert throughout his life. »
The premiere would have taken place on May 1, 2020 as part of the Schwetzingen SWR Festival, further performances were planned at Kissinger Sommer, the Konzerthaus Dortmund, at BOZAR Brussels and Radialsystem Berlin.
On March 18, 2020, rehearsals had to be stop at the Berlin Ufer studios, the premiere on May 1, 2020, together with the entire Schwetzingen Festival, has been canceled and is now postponed to next year.
At the beginning of April, however, an online project was initiated, which is based on the work on Force and Freedom and in addition to the questions asked there, also negotiates the current restrictions on life. In short, fast or meditative clips, which are based on the complete recording of all Beethoven Quartets, individual miniatures of the artists are put together, which as a growing digital diary are small memories such as time capsules or reminiscences of the present situation of social distancing.
“It is a technique beyond the usual streaming: the choice of the pieces and the cut of the scenes put the snapshots in context and develop a whole, a digital staging out of fragments. This method cannot replace the common experience of a physical performance. Rather, the work is an expression of the individual’s longing for each other, which should be preserved as a lasting experience from this crisis. ”
The individual sequences can already be followed on social media. The entire diary you can watch HERE.
At the end of this path there is an extraordinary memory game, which can be put together from a selection of a total of 29 clips. If you find the right solution, you can take part in the raffle of tickets at Schwetzinger Festspiele 2021!
Digital Lockdown-Memory Game
The Memory-Game, where one can win tickets for the Schwetzinger Festspiele 2021, is now online. Good Luck!
Kuss @IDAGIO Live
The Kuss Quartet is invited at IDAGIO Live for a little series with four episodes starting April 29th — alongside with artists like Iván Fischer, Kirill Gerstein, Thomas Hampson and others, presenting their recordings, musical ideas and insights on the Classical Streaming App.
Every Wednesday from 7 pm: CLICK
Out Now! All Beethoven Quartets Live from Suntory Hall
We are immensely happy to present you the result from many years of our quartet life.
Finally, the CD box with 8 CDs have just been released at Rubicon Classics.
Many thanks to our sound engineer Dirk Fischer, the Nippon Music Fondation for the loan of the Stradivari quartet, to the Henle Verlag for the Urtext material, to the Suntory Hall Tokyo for the great cooperation and many numerous helpers, supporters and sponsors.
We wish our audience lot of joy and pleasure at their homes while listening to the album!
Available here:
Amazon UK
Prestoclassical
IDAGIO, Spotify und iTunes
Concerts cancelled
Dear friends, dear fans,
unfortunately we have to let you know that our concerts in Warstein, Paderborn, Kleve as well as Hameln and Amsterdam have been canceled or postponed. The coronavirus pandemic has reached Germany as well.
If you like, you can purchase our new CD, which will be released on March 27th and at least listen to our Beethoven cycle at home! We hope for better times soon, stay healthy and safe,
best regards from the Kuss Quartet
Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s Piano Quintet with Olga Scheps
The new album with pianist Olga Scheps has just been released by Sony Classical.
The first review at RBB Kultur is very positive and compares it to the recording of the famous Borodin Quartet and Weinberg himself.
Highlights 2019/20
The Kuss Quartet continues performing Beethovens String Quartet cycle in the upcoming season, which they will perform in several concerts in October & March in Hanover. Furthermore, the ensemble appears twice at Wigmore Hall London, at the Quartet Biennale in Paris and at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam as well as in many other cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, Kiel, Dannenberg. Siegen, Kleve, Paderborn, Heiligendamm and Schloss Elmau.
The four of them are delighted about the invitation by Hungarian pianist Dénes Várjon to his chamber music festival in November 2019 in Budapest, where they will perform with Várjon himself and again with cellist Miklós Perényi.
The intense collaboration with Nico & the Navigators will be continued for the Beethoven project “Force & Freedom” with its premiere at the Schwetzinger Festspiele in May 2020.
Further performances will take place at Konzerthaus Dortmund, Palais de Beaux-Arts Brussels and at the Kissinger Sommer Festival. All details and links can be found HERE.