The Escher String Quartet is an American string quartet based in New York City, where they serve as Artists of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Their name derives from the Dutch artist M. C. Escher.

Biography

The Escher Quartet was founded in 2005 in New York City, where its original members were studying at the Manhattan School of Music.Woolfe, Zachary (10 November 2011). "Precision And Polish For Quartet On the Rise". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 June 2014. The group tours the US as well as internationally and has performed in Europe, Australia, and China.Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Escher String Quartet. Retrieved 13 June 2014.Evans, Rian (27 June 2013). "Escher String Quartet – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 June 2014. Among the venues where the ensemble has performed are the Auditorium du Louvre in Paris, Kennedy Center in Washington DC, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and Wigmore Hall in London.

The quartet served on the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme from 2010 until 2012.BBC Radio 3. BBC New Generation Artists. Retrieved 13 June 2014. They were also invited by Pinchas Zukerman to serve as Quartet in Residence at the Young Artists Programme at Canada's National Arts Centre and were invited by Itzhak Perlman to the Perlman Music Program on Shelter Island, New York. From 2007 until 2009, the quartet was in residence at Stony Brook University.Stony Brook University."New Southampton Sunday Music Series Kicks Off With Escher String Quartet" . Retrieved 13 June 2014. Escher has been mentored by the Emerson String Quartet and has collaborated with artists that include Leon Fleischer, David Finckel, Wu Han, Benjamin Grosvenor, jazz vocalist Kurt Elling, and jazz saxophonist Joshua RedmanStony Brook University. Emerson String Quartet . Retrieved 13 June 2014.

In 2013 the Escher Quartet was awarded the Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Career Grant.Lincoln Center. Avery Fisher Career Grants 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2014. In 2015 the quartet was awarded the Martin. E. Segal Award by Lincoln Center.

In 2023–2024 the Escher Quartet served as season artists for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Members

Adam Barnett-Hart, violin Brendan Speltz, violin Pierre Lapointe, viola Brook Speltz, cello

Former Members

Aaron Boyd, violin

Recordings

The Escher String Quartet is best known for its recordings of Alexander von Zemlinsky's complete string quartets.Clements, Andrew (22 August 2013), "Zemlinsky: String Quartets Nos 3 and 4; Two pieces – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 June 2014. In 2015, the quartet began releasing recordings of Mendelssohn's complete string quartets on the BIS label.BIS . "BIS Artists: Escher String Quartet". Retrieved 12 October 2015 Music@Menlo: Bridging the Ages, Disc 5. 2008. Music@Menlo Live Amy Cheney Beach Piano Quintet / Alan Louis Smith Vignettes: Covered Wagon Woman. 2011. Chamber Music Society Studio Recordings Stony Brook Soundings, Vol. 1, 2011. Bridge RecordsCahill, Greg (October 2010). "An Impressive Collection of Modern Chamber Works from Stony Brook". Strings. Alexander Zemlinsky String Quartets, Vol. 1, 2013. Naxos Alexander Zemlinsky String Quartets, Vol. 2, 2014. Naxos Mendelssohn: String Quartets No. 1 in E Flat Major and No. 4 in E Minor, 2015. BIS Mendelssohn: String Quartets No. 2 in A Minor and No. 3 in D Major, 2015. BIS Mendelssohn: String Quartets No. 5 in E Flat Major and No. 6 in F Minor, 2016. BIS BIS: Mendelssohn - String Quartets Nos 5 & 6, http://bis.se/label/bis/mendelssohn-string-quartets-nos-5-6 Dvořák: American Quartet; Tchaikovsky: Quartet No. 1; Borodin: Quartet No. 2, 2018.BIS: Dvořák: American Quartet; Tchaikovsky: Quartet No. 1; Borodin: Quartet No. 2. Retrieved 4 April 2019. BIS Samuel Barber: String Quartet in B minor, Op.11; Charles Ives: String Quartet No. 1 (From the Salvation Army) and String Quartet No. 2, 2021.BIS: Samuel Barber: String Quartet in B minor, Op.11; Charles Ives: String Quartet No. 1 (From the Salvation Army) and String Quartet No. 2. Retrieved 9 May 2022. BIS Pierre Jalbert: String Quartet No. 4, Air in Motion, and String Quartet No. 6 (“Canticle”), 2023. Orchard Classics – with Carol Wincenc (flute) Pierre Jalbert: String Quartet No. 5 Terra Incognita, 2023. Orchard Classics

References

External links