Break-up: World-famous string quartet dissolves

One of the world’s most outstanding string quartets has suspended operations after 32 years, sending shock ripples through the sector.

The Artemis Quartet, founded in 1989, has suffered the same paralysis as everyone else during Covid. But the quartet had only just replaced two members before the pandemic and this, together with individual issues, has prompted the remaining members to suspend the band.

Here is a statement to slippedisc.com from violinist Gregor Sigl:

The Artemis Quartet announces a break from performing for an indefinite period of time and dissolves the current formation. The consequences of the gruelling pandemic, a serious case of illness in the immediate family and the upcoming maternity leave of Vineta Sareika do not allow the quartet to plan reliably at this time. The Artemis Quartet will regroup and return to the stage in due course.

The quartet is well known to Slipped Disc readers from Anthea Kreston’s weekly columns on its progress. Anthea, a rare American in a European string quartet, quit in April 2019 with one other player after a period of turbulence. Their replacements were Berlin-based concertmaster Suyoen Kim and Dutch solo cellist Harriet Krijgh. 

Both have now returned to their prior careers. Sareika is having a baby and Sigl promises more information in the coming weeks.

The Artemis were always an exciting quartet. Their recordings of late Beethoven are breathtaking.