Italian Prologue

Thanks to the recently signed memorandum about cooperation between our festival and the renowned Italian Foundation and Academia Stauffer, the prologue of the 31st edition took place in Cremona, Italy. This Lombard city is the capital of house making and was the home of Antonio Stradivari. On Thursday, 16/4, three up-and-coming and outstanding quartets were introduced: Arola Quartet (CH), Quartetto di Genova (IT), and Suk Quartet. The concert took place in a stunning hall of the Renaissance palace Affaitati, in which is the city’s museum Ala Ponzone. Evening, coined after the title of this year’s dramaturgy, “Essere quartetto” was a flawless fusion of Italian energy, Czech brilliance, and Swiss precision, and the thunderous applause confirmed it. The Consul General of Czechia in Milano, Ivan Počuch, was among the satisfied listeners, as well as a handful of the festival’s supporters who came to witness this special occasion in Cremona, from around Czechia. We truly appreciate all the artists, colleagues from the Foundation and Academia Stauffer, and our supporters, who made this opportunity of raising a symbolic curtain to this year’s edition in such a special place possible.

You can see the concert’s exceptional atmosphere and the complete stay in Cremona, for yourself, through the report from Lukáš Vídeňský.

We are excited about the continuation of cooperation: masterclasses for a foursome of young exceptional quartets will take place as part of our festival on the 16th. – 18th. of June in Kroměříž. Unfolding under the close supervision of the chamber music Maestros – Peter Jarůšek, Pavel Nikl, and Simone Gramaglia – the masterclasses climax with the concert in Obrazárna of the fabulous Archbishop Chateau in Kroměříž. Detailed information can be found in the section PROGRAMME.

Opening photo: Giuseppe Milanese (C) Fondazione Stauffer