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Cleveland Chamber Music Society

Jerusalem Quartet

Jerusalem Quartet

Tuesday, April 13 2027, 7:30 p.m.
Cultural Arts Center at Disciples Church, Cleveland Heights
                Alexander Pavlovsky, 1st violin
                Sergei Bresler, 2nd violin
                Mathis Rochat, viola
                Kyril Zlotnikov, cello

Preconcert talk with Michael Strasser, 6:30 p.m.

HAYDN: String Quartet in D major, Op. 76, No. 5
PROKOFIEV: String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Op. 92
BRAHMS: String Quartet in C minor, Op. 51, No. 1


"Arguably the world’s best quartet."   —The Artsdesk

The JERUSALEM QUARTET returns to the CCMS stage following its triumphant Complete Shostakovich Quartet series with another exciting program.
This program begins with one of Haydn’s “Erdődy” quartets noted for its especially expansive and expressive Largo movement further refining the quartet form he established decades earlier. Incorporating folk music with its modal melodies and dance rhythms for distinctive regional color, Quartet #2 is one of only two quartets Prokofiev composed. In the shadows of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, Brahms studied their work extensively before he was satisfied with his efforts in the genre. This quartet utilizes a dramatic C-minor character showing significant symphonic weight in its structure, motivic, and thematic development.

"This group is a force of nature....It's not just a question of sound. The perfection of the execution leaves you breathless."  —La Presse (Montreal)

About the Artists

“Passion, precision, warmth, a gold blend: these are the trademarks of this excellent Israeli string quartet.” 

 Such was the Times’ (London) impression of the Jerusalem Quartet. Since the ensemble's founding in 1993 and their debut in 1995, the four Israeli musicians have embarked on a remarkable journey of growth and maturation. Their expansive repertoire and extraordinary depth of expression have firmly established them as a distinctive voice in the string quartet tradition. At the heart of their sound lies a warm, full, and deeply human tone, paired with an egalitarian balance between high and low voices. This approach allows the quartet to combine individual expression with a transparent and faithful presentation of the composer’s work. It also drives their ongoing refinement of interpretations of the classical repertoire, while encouraging explorations of new musical territories.

 The Jerusalem Quartet is a regular and cherished guest on the world’s most prestigious concert stages. The year 2025 marked the Quartet’s 30th anniversary, which the ensemble celebrated with a special focus on Shostakovich’s 15 quartets, presented across 10 cities worldwide, including St. Paul, MN; Cleveland, OH; Portland, OR; Concertgebouw Amsterdam; Beethovenfest Bonn; Philharmonie Cologne; and Tonhalle Zurich.

 Highlights of the upcoming 2025/2026 season include two North American tours, as well as extensive performances across Europe, with concerts at renowned venues such as the Konzerthaus Wien and Wigmore Hall in London. Another season milestone for the Quartet will be a series of quintet concerts in Europe in spring 2026 with celebrated pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja, taking place at prestigious venues including the Gewandhaus in Leipzig and the Alte Oper in Frankfurt.

 The Jerusalem Quartet’s recordings have received numerous awards and accolades, including the Diapason d’Or and the BBC Music Magazine Award for Chamber Music. Previous Harmonia Mundi releases include a unique exploration of Jewish music in Central Europe between the wars, featuring a collection of 1920s Yiddish cabaret songs from Warsaw performed with Israeli soprano Hila Baggio, as well as the second volume of their complete Bartók cycle released in 2020. Today, the quartet records exclusively for BIS, with their first release for the label in 2025 featuring Shostakovich Quartets No. 2, 7 & 10.

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