Quarto Quartet is one of the most successful Bulgarian ensembles for classical and contemporary chamber music.
Founded as a piano quartet in 2005 by the violinist Ivan Penchev, Quarto Quartet has been continuously evolving, driven by burning enthusiasm and relentless creativity.
Eventually, the ensemble expanded to include a second violin, a clarinet and a contrabass, which made it capable of performing versatile concert programs combining works for trios, string and piano quartets and quintets.
Currently, the ensemble consists of Ivan Penchev (violin), Svetlana Stancheva (violin), Tatyana Todorova (viola) and Dimitar Tenchev (cello). The musicians are also members of some of Bulgaria’s best orchestras like the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra and Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra.
In 2011, Quarto Quartet performed Mahler, Pipkov and Brahms piano quartets as part of a formal presentation of Bulgaria in the Yehudi Menuhin Hall in the European Parliament in Brussels.
Thanks to its brilliant interpretations the Quarto Quartet ensemble itself is also a laureate in prominent music competitions like the Mozart 250th Anniversary Competition (2006), 1st Austrian Chamber Music International Competition (2008) and Marin Goleminov Music Competition (2008). Recent acknowledgements of the ensemble include the most prestigious national awards in classical music such as “Musician of the year” (2013), “Crystal lira” (2014), “The golden feather” (the highest prize of Classic FM Radio -2016).
The main characteristics of Quarto Quartet’s signature style are compelling dramaturgical concepts, remarkable expressivity and unique scenic presence. The audience is always left with the impression that the quartet does not merely play music but tells stories and draws pictures through sound and emotion, creating new worlds and inviting everyone in to indulge in the breathtaking beauty of chamber music.
Quarto Quartet has the rare ability to perform any musical composition from any era, in any style and for any purpose with unfailing perfectionism. Its musical language is always enthrallingly energetic, deep, stylish and overflowing with messages.
Quarto Quartet’s repertoire encompasses hundreds of classical works, jazz and tango plays and premiers of Bulgarian and foreign contemporary composers as well as masterpieces by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Smetana, Dvořák, Mahler, Bridge, Bartok, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Piazzolla and many, many others who added to the world’s treasury of classical music.
To date, the ensemble has performed more than two hundred concerts in Bulgaria and abroad and participated in multiple recordings for the Bulgarian National Radio and Bulgarian National Television.
Quarto Quartet has also been awarded a number of honorary diplomas for its dedicated involvement in charitable events sponsored by international and national organizations.
Over the years, Quarto Quartet has been able to establish itself as a leading chamber ensemble, continuing traditions in chamber music Bulgaria has always been proud of.