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Ten quartets have been selected to take part in this year’s competition, which will be held from 19 to 25 May
The 11th Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition will be held in May as part of the Vibre! Festival 2025. Ten quartets comprising 40 musicians representing eleven different countries have been selected to take part in this year’s edition. They are:
Animato Kwartet (The Netherlands)
Arete Quartet (South Korea)
Ast Quartet (German/South Korea)
Quatuor Elmire (France)
Quartett Hana (Germany)
Kleio Quartet (UK)
Quatuor Magenta (France)
Quatuor Métamorphoses (France)
Opus13 (Norway/Sweden)
Terra Quartet (US)
The first rounds will be held on 19 and 20 May at the Auditorium of the Bordeaux National Opera. Six ensembles will progress to the semi-final rounds on 22 and 23 May and the chosen finalists will perform on 24 May. The competition winners concert will be held on Sunday 25 May.
The grand first prize will include €20,000, a quartet of bows by Edwin Clément, worth €40,000, as well as production of an album on the Mirare label to be distributed by PIAS/Harmonia Mundi, plus a concert tour.
Second prize will include €10,000, a set of BAM cases, an invitation to a series of masterclasses to be selected by the prizewinner, and a concert in the ProQuartet season.
Third prize will include €5,000 and an invitation to the Saint-Jean de Lux/Ciboure Ravel Academy. Special awards include the €2,000 contemporary work prize, €1,000 young audience prize and audience prize, plus each participant will receive a €50 voucher to use in the Henle Library app.
Martin Beaver will serve as president of the jury, which comprises Corina Belcea, Helen Clement, Miguel da Silva, Valentin Erben and Anne Queffélec.
The Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition was established in 1999 and is held every three years. Previous grand-prizewinners include the Leonkoro Quartet, Marmen Quartet and Akilone Quartet.
Picture credits: Clara Evens, D.R, Avid_MusicArt, Junhyung Kim, Matthew Johnson Photographer, Athéon, Elvira Glänte, Sophie Kaye Photography
Read: Opinion: Making the most out of chamber music coaching
Read: ‘A perfect balance between competition and festival’ - Postcard from Bordeaux Quartet Competition
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