PRESENTATION

Terpsycordes Quartet
Girolamo Bottiglieri, first vioin
Raya Raytcheva, second violin
Blythe Teh Engstroem, viola
François Grin, cello

 

Prism of musical repertoires, multiplicity of approach, kaleidoscope of personalities – these many facets combine to make up the unique character of the Terpsycordes Quartet, at once singular and plural. The formation has won distinction at many international competitions, including a First Prize in Geneva in 2001, and has succeeded in radiating its quadruple talent – a magical blend of harmony and complementarity, innovation and audacity of interpretation. The muse Terpsichore is their constant inspiration – music’s daughter linking gesture and spirit. Terre (earth), psy (spirit), cordes  (strings).

Both on stage and in the recording studio, the Terpsycordes assert their eclecticism.  Their recordings, all acclaimed by the specialized press, reflect a determination to penetrate the very heart of each piece they play, combining rigour and imagination: Schubert’s later quartets (Quarttettsatz D 703, Rosamunde, Death and the Maiden D 887), and Beethoven’s Opus 132 and Opus 18 no 6) revealed with period instruments (respectively Ricercar and Ambronay), Schumann’s Opus 41 and Haydn’s Opus 33 and The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross (Claves and Ricercar), Vierne’s Quintet with piano (Brilliant Classics), not to mention contemporary works by the Swiss composer Gregorio Zanon (Claves), and incursions into the worlds of tango (Piazzolla, with William Sabatier) and of jazz (with Mael Godinat Trionyx). The Quartet’s last album of two Swiss composers – René Gerber and Ernest Bloch – was released in May 2017 by VDE Gallo.

Founded in 1997 in Geneva, the Terpsycordes Quartet was trained by Gabor Takàcs-Nagy and subsequently coached notably by members of the Budapest, Hagen, Lasalle and Mosaïque Quartets. Drawing vitality from their contrasting origins (Italy, Bulgaria, USA and Switzerland) the musicians offer dazzling performances to audiences of major concert halls such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Salle Gaveau in Paris, the Tonhalle in Zurich, and the Victoria Hall in Geneva.

Through its commitment to young audiences, the Terpsycordes Quartet participates each year in educational programmes for Geneva’s Department of Education, and since 2015 has sponsored the project “Orchestra in class”.

 

Supported by the City of Geneva.



 

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presentation3.08 MB
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