Spain
"The Leonkoro Quartet [...] has an enormous stage presence, glows for the music, takes full risks and amazes with its empathy for the respective sound of the pieces [...]“
Jonathan Schwarz & Amelie Wallner – violin
Mayu Konoe – viola / Lukas Schwarz – cello
The String Quartet, founded in Berlin in 2019, can hardly be described more aptly than in the review published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in January 2022.
The ensemble is framed by the brothers Jonathan and Lukas Schwarz on first violin and cello, while the middle voices are formed by Amelie Wallner on second violin and Mayu Konoe on viola. Leonkoro, in Esperanto: Lionheart, does not coincidentally allude to Astrid Lindgren's children's book about two brothers, the story juxtaposes the grave reality of death with a large and heartfelt yearning for comfort and solace - a sentiment that string quartet repertoire addresses in several instances.
In 2022, the Leonkoro Quartet garnered a series of prestigious accolades, solidifying their place among the most celebrated ensembles of their generation. In March, they were bestowed with the highly prestigious Jürgen Ponto Foundation Music Prize, a biennial award recognizing outstanding String Quartets. Subsequently, the quartet triumphed at the International String Quartet Competition held at London's Wigmore Hall, earning 1st prize and a collection of 9 special awards, including interpretations, residencies, and concert prizes.
Continuing their triumphant journey, the quartet seized the top honours - 1st prize - at the Concours International de Quatuor à Bordeaux in May. Their exceptional performances not only impressed the esteemed jury but also captivated the audience, resulting in the quartet receiving both the Audience Prize and the Young Audience Prize. Shortly thereafter, they were invited to join the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists program, where they will participate from 2022 to 2024.
November 2022 witnessed yet another remarkable achievement for the quartet when they were bestowed with the MERITO String Quartet Award.
The series of accolades continued in Spring 2024: In March, the Leonkoro Quartet received the Young Talent Award of the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, the starting point for a long-standing relationship. Shortly after followed the announcement as Borletti-Buitoni Trust award winners, a great honor and a wonderful support for the quartet and its work.
Alongside their academic pursuits in chamber music under the tutelage of Heime Müller (Artemis Quartet) at the Musikhochschule Lübeck, the quartet has been studying with Günter Pichler (Primarius Alban Berg Quartet) at the Chamber Music Institute of the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía Madrid since 2020. Notable mentors of the ensemble include Eckart Runge and Gregor Sigl (Artemis Quartet), as well as pianist Alfred Brendel, with whom the Leonkoro Quartet maintains a regular collaboration.
In Fall 2023, Mirare released the ensemble's first album featuring Maurice Ravel's String Quartet and Robert Schumann's String Quartet Op. 41 No. 3, which was crowned with the Choc de Classica l'année 2023 just a few weeks later.
The four musicians already celebrated many triumphant debuts in major international concert series and festivals last season. More will follow this season, including at the Salzburg Festival, the Philharmonie Luxembourg, the Liederhalle Stuttgart, the Tonhalle Zurich, the Bozar Brussels and the Konzerthaus Dortmund. In addition, the quartet will tour North America for the first time with concerts in New York City, NY, Boston, MA, Montreal, QC, Chicago, IL, Houston, TX and San Francisco, CA, just to name a few.
The Leonkoro Quartet represents Pirastro as Pirastro Artists and serves as Henle App Ambassadors.
Jonathan plays a fine JB Guadagnini on generous loan through the Beares International Violin Society. Amelie Wallner plays a Vicenzo Postiglione violin, generously provided by a private donor. Mayu Konoe plays a viola by Lorenzo Storioni, kindly provided by a private sponsor. Lukas Schwarz plays a cello by Carlo Tononi, Venice (approx. 1720) loaned by the Beares International Violin Society.
