Ébène Quartet Union College

Sunday, April 12, 2026 - 3:00 PM

This Parisian quartet is among one of the best in the world and is always a “circle-the-date” concert on the series. The Ébène shows off its scintillating technique, lush sound, and awe-inspiring togetherness in masterworks of the literature.

Program:
- Mozart: D-minor Quartet, K. 421
- Debussy: Quartet, Op. 10
- Brahms: A-minor Quartet, Op. 51, No. 2

Sponsored by Jill Taylor and Paul Masters

RUNTIME: 2 HOURS

Union College
Memorial Chapel
Schenectady, NY

General Admission seating—doors open 45 minutes before concert.
All kids and college students admitted free at door.

Attending a concert by the Quatuor Ébène is a musical and sensual happening. In the past two decades the quartet has set standards by making familiar repertoire accessible in new ways beyond perfection, and by constantly seeking the exchange with the audience. This spring, Yuya Okamoto joined the quartet’s esteemed ranks, adding a new dimension.

After studies with the Quatuor Ysaÿe in Paris as well as with Gábor Takács, Eberhard Feltz and György Kurtág, the quartet achieved success at the 2004 ARD Music Competition, which marked the beginning of their rise to fame. They later received the Belmont Prize (2005), were prize winners of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust (2007), and in 2019 were honored with the Frankfurt Music Prize.

In addition to the traditional repertoire, the quartet also explores other styles ("A String Quartet that can easily morph into a jazz band" — New York Times, 2009). What began in 1999 as improvising on jazz standards and pop songs has become a trademark. The quartet has released albums in these genres: Fiction (2010), Brazil (2014) and Eternal Stories (2017). In June 2024, the ensemble will present "Waves", a new project with the electronic sound artist Xavier Tribolet.

Their recordings of Bartók, Beethoven, Debussy, Haydn, Fauré and the Mendelssohn siblings have received awards including Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine honors. In 2015–2016 they focused on the theme "Lied," participating on Philippe Jaroussky's album Green (Mélodies françaises) and releasing a Schubert album with Matthias Goerne (arrangements for string quartet, baritone, and double bass by Raphaël Merlin) as well as the Schubert String Quintet with Gautier Capuçon. Together with Antoine Tamestit, Quatuor Ébène recorded the Mozart String Quintets K. 515 and K. 516, released in spring 2023 and receiving accolades such as Choc Classica, Diapason d'Or, and Gramophone of the month.

They recorded Beethoven’s 16 String Quartets between May 2019 and January 2020, celebrating their 20th anniversary with performances of the complete cycle in major venues. Invitations have included Carnegie Hall, the Verbier Festival and the Vienna Konzerthaus.

In January 2021, the quartet was appointed by the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich to establish a String Quartet class as part of the "Quatuor Ébène Academy." Since the past season they have been performing a joint cycle with the Belcea Quartet at the Wiener Konzerthaus. For the 23/24 season the Philharmonie Luxembourg chose Quatuor Ébène as resident ensemble; next to chamber music concerts they will present John Adams's Absolute Jest with the Luxembourg Philharmonic.

Further highlights include concerts at the Salzburg Festival, Berliner Philharmonie, Megaron Athens, Wigmore Hall London and Carnegie Hall in New York City.