World Class String Quartets in Lyon

Conceived as a festival, the competition offers some twenty recitals over the course of a few days. As the organization's avowed aim is to bring out personalities rather than virtuosos, the semi-finalists present in Lyon are offered two one-hour recitals, with a repertoire left open, no set pieces but discoveries, with incentives in the form of prizes, and a strong emphasis on French composers, whom the musicians will take on the task of revealing to the public locally and around the world. 

For three days, the 7 quartets present in Lyon presented two recitals designed to show the full range of their talents, with different characters, nuances that were sometimes brilliant, sometimes gentle, brutal or caressing, precise, offering their musicality in perfect harmony and sensitivity.  

Talent is everywhere, and it was difficult for the jury to select the three finalists: Arete, Varen and Hesper vied with each other in the musical arena. 

While Arete thrilled the audience with their brilliant performance of Janacek's Quartet no. 1 (Kreutzer Sonata), the Varen foursome gave a harmonious setting to Mozart and Debussy, and a special aura to turn-of-the-century French composer Jean Cras with his work "A ma Bretagne". Last but not least, Hesper, like the evening star that gave them their name, told us beautiful stories, and earned their place in the final with their sacred interpretation of Sophie Lacaze's "Het Lam Gods". Their "Death and the Maiden" was equally solemn and evocative of tragedy, but pierced by rays of light.