The Doric String Quartet brings elegance and refinement to both the Classical canon and new music, offering fresh perspectives of familiar masterpieces. For over two decades, the quartet has combined the insight of a long-established ensemble with fresh artistic energy and a sense of discovery. They have performed complete cycles of Bartók and Britten at major European venues, including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Vienna Konzerthaus and Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie. The first instalment of their Beethoven recording cycle was released in 2023 and praised by The Times as ‘a joy’, the series marking the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death in 2027.

The quartet’s collaborations extend beyond string-quartet repertoire, with musicians and artists from across the classical spectrum. This season they join forces with Héloïse Werner for a recital at Wigmore Hall and tour with Anna Prohaska. They perform regularly with musicians including pianists Jonathan Biss and Benjamin Grosvenor, violist Timothy Ridout and fellow string quartets including Marmen and Quiroga.

The quartet regularly tours Australia, Japan and the US, with recent highlights including a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall, performances at Concertgebouw Amsterdam, the presentation of the complete Britten cycle at De Bijloke in Ghent and their debut at Shanghai Symphony Hall, which resulted in an immediate invitation to take part in the venue’s Beethoven string quartet cycle. They also return regularly to Wigmore Hall and Snape Maltings, and have appeared at festivals including Aldeburgh, Edinburgh, Grafenegg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, West Cork, Thaxted and Tivoli. This season’s highlights include appearances at Musikverein Vienna, Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie and four Wigmore Hall recitals.

Having themselves benefitted from coaching by groups including the Hagen, Alban Berg, Artemis and LaSalle Quartets, the group is dedicated to supporting young musicians. They have been Teaching Quartet in Association at the Royal Academy of Music since 2015.

Current confirmed programme includes

Beethoven, Ludwig van: String Quartet No.16 in F major op.135

Interval

Beethoven, Ludwig van: String Quartet No.13 in B flat Major op. 130