Cuarteto Quiroga, appointed quartet-in-residence in charge of the Royal Collection of decorated Stradivarius at Madrid’s Royal Palace, has established itself as one of the most dynamic and unique quartets of its generation, winning international acclaim from critics and audiences alike for its distinctive personality as well as its bold and original approach to the string quartet repertoire. The quartet honours the memory of galician violinist Manuel Quiroga, one of the most outstanding instrumentalist of spanish music history.

The group studied at Madrid’s Escuela Reina Sofia with Professor Rainer Schmidt, at the Musikhochschule Basel with Walter Levin, and at the ECMA with Prof. Hatto Beyerle. Other important influences are Johannes Meissl, György Kurtág, András Keller, Eberhard Feltz and Ferenc Rados. Prizewinners of several major international competitions (Bordeaux, Paolo Borciani, Genève, Beijing, Fnapec-Paris, Palau-Barcelona), the ensemble appears regularly worldwide (Wigmore Hall London, Philarmonie Berlin, Frick Collection and Lincoln Center New York, , DaCamera LosAngeles, National Gallery Washington DC, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Invalides Paris, Martinu Hall Prague, Nybrokajen Stockholm, Auditorio Nacional-Madrid, Heidelberger Frühling, Stadtcasino Basel, Mozarteum Salzburg, String Quartet Biennial Amsterdam, etc.) and was awarded the Spanish National Radio Culture Prize. Frequent stage partners include Martha Argerich, Veronika Hagen, Valentin Erben, Javier Perianes, Richard Lester, Alain Meunier, David Kadouch, Jonathan Brown, Vladimir Mendelssohn, Tomas Djupsjöbacka, Chen Halevy, and the Doric, Meta4, Ardeo and Galatea string quartets.

Strongly committed to chamber music teaching, they hold the String Quartet Chair at Zaragoza’s Conservatorio Superior (CSMA), and they are regularly invited to give masterclasses at universities and music conservatories throughout Europe, USA and Latin America.

Their CD-albums “Statements” and “(R)evolutions” (COBRA), have been acclaimed by the international press and awarded several prizes and distinctions. “Statements”, with music of Haydn, Webern and Sollima won the “CD of the year 2012 Award”, given by the Independent Producers Union (UFI). “(R)evolutions”, dedicated to the early music of Schönberg, Webern and Alban Berg, was awarded, among several other distinctions, with the label “Exceptional CD” given by Scherzo, Spain’s leading music magazine. They have recently released two new CD titles: “Frei Aber Einsam”, dedicated to the Opus 51 quartets by Johannes Brahms (Cobra) and a collaboration with pianist Javier Perianes including the piano quintets of Granados and Turina (Harmonia Mundi). Both recordings have already been praised by such prestigious reviewers as The Strad, Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine (UK), Luister (NL), El País (Spain) and have already received awards and recognitions from several magazines (Scherzo, Pizzicato, Ritmo, Melómano, ICMA, etc.) and broadcasting corporations, such as the Norddeutscher Rundfunk, NDR.

Cuarteto Quiroga has its official residence throughout the year at Madrid’s Cerralbo Museum. Mr.Sierra would like to thank Paola Modiano’s heirs for the generous opportunity to play the 1682 Nicola Amati violin “Arnold Rosé”.