The Arditti Quartet pulls out of its early November Wien Modern festival concerts after cellist breaks his arm
Several upcoming appearances by the renowned Arditti Quartet have been postponed, according to the ensemble’s online diary. Several days before the Arditti Quartet were to begin a 50th-anniversary project in Vienna, cellist Lucas Fels was reported to have broken his arm, thus resulting in the cancellation of its Wien Modern concerts scheduled for the first week of November.
Founded in 1974 by violinist Irvine Arditti, the ensemble is celebrated for its exceptional commitment to contemporary classical music. Specialising in 20th- and 21st-century works, the Arditti Quartet has premiered and recorded pieces by such eminent composers as Ligeti, Xenakis, Gubaidulina, Birtwistle and Stockhausen – among many others – significantly shaping the landscape of modern string quartet repertoire.
Known for their technical precision and interpretive depth, the Arditti have received numerous awards, including the prestigious Ernst von Siemens Music Prize. Their extensive discography and pioneering performances make them a central force in contemporary music.
‘We deeply regret that the cellist of the Arditti Quartet broke his arm just a few days before the start of the planned major anniversary project ARDITTI 50 (1–2 November 2024 Wiener Konzerthaus, 4–5 November 2024 Musikverein) and wish him a full recovery’, states Wien Modern on its website.
‘In view of the intensive preparations and rehearsals the quartet has been undertaking for this project for months, we have jointly decided to maintain the integrity of the programme and the quartet and not to look for short-term replacements for parts of the programme. We are working on postponing all four concerts to 2025 without changes; the new dates will be announced as soon as possible.’
There has been no word yet as to whether the Arditti Quartet will attempt to proceed with its scheduled appearances at the upcoming Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, which runs from 15–24 November.
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