Festetics Quartet   Members of the quartet: István Kertész  - 1st violin Erika Petőfi       - 2nd violin Kriszta Véghelyi - viola Rezső Pertorini - violoncello

The Festetics Quartet performs on period instruments with a special regard for historic performance practice. It is at present the only string quartet of its kind of Central Europe. In their rendering one finds the technique of original instruments blended with the legendary tradition of Hungarian string quartets.

The decision to found the Festetics Quartet was strengthened by its members affinity to Haydn’s music which – on account of Haydn’s long engagement in Hungary and his attraction to the ,,verbunk” – the consider as part of the Hungarian heritage. In the research of Haydn’s and his many wonderful string quartets they rely heavily on the noted Haydn scholar László Somfai. Studying Haydn’s original autographs together in a joint theoretical-practical workshop for many years now, the have succeeded in exploring the possibly most ,,authentic” way of performing the Haydn quartets.

The recording of the complete Haydn string quartets was started with the six quartets Op. 9. for Hungaroton and continued for Quintana- Harmonia Mundi.

The Festetics Quartetis earning recognition fast and it was invited to many prestigious concert halls and festivals (e. g. Münster and Münsterland, Budapest Spring, Abbaye de l’Epau, Wiener Klassik, Haydn-Tage Wien, Festtage Stuttgart, Musicora, Early Music Network Utrecht, Granollers) as well as for radio and television recordings in Hungary and abroad.

The repertoire of the Festetics Quartetprimarily includes the string quartets by Haydn and Mozart as well as the early works to perform by Beethoven and Schubert. It is a cherished aim of the quartet to perform the works of lesser known Hungarian composers of the 18^th century (e. g. Grill, Bengraf, Csermák, Rózsavölgyi) and the best of the Hungarian ,,verbunkos” music. The quartet is always pleased to perform with other musicians such as for instance clarinetist Eric Hoeprich, flutist Konrad Hünteler and French horn player Claude Maury and Teunis van der Zwart – all members of the Orchestra of the 18^th century - and with singers such as Isabelle Poulenard and Michael Schopper.

Some Music Samples of Festetics String Quartet

Joseph Haydn : The Last Quartets

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