Performer Biography

Their shared passion for chamber music led Christian and Tanja Tetzlaff, as well as Hanna Weinmeister and Elisabeth Kufferath, to form a string quartet in 1994—the Tetzlaff Quartet was born. Since then, this ensemble has developed into one of the most sought-after quartets in the middle generation.

Regular concerts take the Tetzlaff Quartet to all the important concert venues in Germany, as well as to France, Italy, Belgium, Great Britain, Switzerland and the USA. The ensemble is at home on the major international stages such as the Cité de la Musique in Paris, Wigmore Hall London, the Société Philharmonique in Brussels, the Vienna Musikverein, and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam. The ensemble is a welcome guest at renowned festivals such as the Berliner Festwochen and the Heidelberger Frühling. A tour to the USA and concerts in Japan are planned for this season. In Europe, the quartet will perform in Oslo and Bergen, Paris, and Evian, among others. In Germany, they have a residency at the Schwetzinger SWR Festival; they will also give concerts in Berlin, Hamburg, Duisburg, Coesfeld, Freinsheim, and Warstein.

In 2010 the first CD with quartets by Schönberg and Sibelius was released on the CAvi label; in 2013 a recording with works by Berg and Mendelssohn followed, awarded the “Diapason d’Or”. A CD with works by Haydn and Schubert was released on the Ondine label in 2017, and most recently in 2020 a recording of two late string quartets by Beethoven.

Christian Tetzlaff, violin—Equally at home in the repertoire of classical and romantic music as well as the 20th century, Christian Tetzlaff has set standards with his interpretations of the great violin concertos. As a soloist and chamber musician, he regularly gives guest performances in all international music metropolises. He plays a violin by Peter Greiner.

Elisabeth Kufferath, violin—Since 2009 she has held a professorship for violin at the University of Music and Drama in Hannover. She is a sought-after chamber music partner and is committed to contemporary music (premieres of Manfred Trojahn and Elliott Carter, among others). She plays a violin by Peter Greiner.

Hanna Weinmeister, viola—Since 1998 she has been engaged as First Concertmaster of the Zurich Opera Orchestra. She plays a viola by Peter Greiner.

Tanja Tetzlaff, cello—Tanja Tetzlaff performs as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe as well as in the USA, Australia, and Japan and is a regular guest at international festivals. She plays a violoncello by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini from 1776.