Biography
Quartetto di Cremona
Cristiano Gualco violin
Paolo Andreoli violin
Simone Gramaglia viola
Giovanni Scaglione cello
The four musicians were excellent interpreters of a repertoire that is not only largely unknown in our country, but which the four gentlemen also had to acquire first. That this was more than worthwhile may be proven by the intense applause of the audience.
OÖ Nachrichten Linz | April 2022
The playing was marked by admirable unanimity and blend […] An evening full of splendid music-making.
Classical Sources | February 2022
An album for the ensemble’s 20th anniversary that offers the highest level of listening pleasure!
Rondomagazin | November 2020
Ein Wunder! (A wonder!)
Der neue Merker | July 2019
An unexpected emphasis here, an unusual moment of phrasing there: the Cremona Quartet are unpredictable, but never mannered in these Schubert chamber masterpieces. They capture the profound beauty of both works.
BBC Music Magazine | July 2019
Indeed, in Beethoven cycle, the Quartetto di Cremona presents itself as an eminent ambassador of the Italian Quartet Culture and, at the same time, confirms its position as an ensemble of international excellence.
Fono Forum | January 2018
Since its formation in 2000, the Quartetto di Cremona has established a reputation as one of the most exciting chamber ensembles on the international stage. Regularly invited to perform in major music festivals in Europe, North and South America, and Far East, they garner universal acclaim for their high level of interpretive artistry.
BBT Fellowship prize winner in 2005, the ensemble received also the “Franco Buitoni Award” (2019) for its constant contribution to the promotion of chamber music in Italy and around the world. In 2021, Quartetto di Cremona was designated a Si-Yo Master Artist™️ Ensemble.
Despite the pandemic emergency, in the past seasons the ensemble has made prestigious debuts such as at the Rudolfinum in Prague, at the CRR Concert Hall in Istanbul, Fundación Juan March in Madrid, Bruckner Haus in Linz and for the Chamber Music Society at Lincoln Center in New York. Recent and upcoming engagements include concerts in Scandinavia, Holland and Belgium, Germany and Austria, Spain, India, Taiwan and in major Italian concert societies. In addition, North American tours are regularly planned twice a year, with the Carnegie Hall debut scheduled for October 2023 as well as a re-invitation from the CMS in March 2024. The Quartet is also collaborating with numerous artists such as Eckart Runge, David Orlowsky, Pablo Barragan, Kit Armstrong, Miguel da Silva and the Emerson Quartet.
Released in November 2020, “Italian Postcards” (Avie Records) assembles evocations of the Mediterranean country by four non-natives composers (Mozart, Wolf, Tchaikovsky, Borenstein): the album has received enthusiastic reviews in the major international music magazines. In spring 2019, a double CD dedicated to Schubert was released with the participation of cellist Eckart Runge (Audite), and recorded with the Stradivarius set of instruments named “Paganini Quartet”, on kind loan from the Nippon Music Foundation (Tokyo). In 2018 was concluded the publication of the complete Beethoven Quartets (Audite), which was received with great interest by international critics and several prizes. In June 2022 the ensemble recorded its own version of The Art of Fugue, performed with seven instruments so as not to alter the original writing of Bach’s score.
Frequently invited to present masterclasses in Europe, Asia, North and South America, the members of the quartet have been Professors at the Walter Stauffer Academy in Cremona since 2011. They are ambassadors for the international project “Friends of Stradivari” and honorary citizens of Cremona, UNESCO Cultural Heritage for violin making. They also endorse the “Le Dimore del Quartetto” project and Thomastik Infield Strings.
Cristiano Gualco violin Nicola Amati, Cremona 1640
Paolo Andreoli violin Paolo Antonio Testore, Milano ca. 1758 (Kulturfonds Peter Eckes)
Simone Gramaglia viola Gioachino Torazzi, ca. 1680 (Kulturfonds Peter Eckes)
Giovanni Scaglione cello Dom Nicola Amati, Bologna 1712 (Kulturfonds Peter Eckes)
Updated: February 2022