Photo. https://kwartet-slaski.com/pl/media-pl/galeria/kwartet-slaski
Current Members of the Silesian Quartet:
Szymon Krzeszowiec – first violin
Arkadiusz Kubica – second violin
Łukasz Syrnicki – viola
Piotr Janosik – cello
The Silesian Quartet was formed in 1978 by students of the Academy of Music in Katowice, with its current lineup established in 2001 when Szymon Krzeszowiec joined the ensemble. Previously, for 20 years, Marek Moś served as the first violinist, and although the ensemble's membership changed over the years, it has operated continuously since its founding. The name "Silesian Quartet" was proposed by music theorist and critic Krzysztof Droba on the eve of the First Chamber Music Festival in Lusławice, arguing that "Silesian identity" should have positive connotations in the musical community.
In their formative years, the ensemble refined their skills through master classes conducted by members of the LaSalle, Amadeus, Juilliard, Smetana, and Berg Quartets. Just two years after beginning their activities, they performed the world premieres of compositions by Aleksander Lasoń, Eugeniusz Knapik, and Krystyna Moszumańska-Nazar. It is worth noting that the most prolific years for this aspect of the Quartet's activity were 2005 and 2007, which yielded a combined total of 24 premieres. A significant portion of these compositions was dedicated to the musicians, so it is not surprising that over the years, the ensemble gained a reputation as a quartet that "will play anything," each time extracting all nuances from the composition, enhanced by the power of their own expression and musical taste.
These qualities are appreciated by music programmers worldwide, who annually invite the Silesian Quartet to perform in prestigious venues, where the musicians draw not only from the most recent repertoire but also from the classical chamber music literature. The Silesian Quartet's repertoire includes over 300 chamber works, encompassing compositions for quartet, quintets, sextets, octets with piano or wind instruments, works with orchestra, voice, and other instruments, from Haydn to Szymański.
For 25 years, from 1993 to 2017, the Quartet's musicians themselves served as hosts of the "Silesian Quartet and Their Guests" festival, where they annually invited distinguished musicians and attracted music lovers to concerts at the Palace in Rybna, Radio Katowice, and the Concert Hall of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice.
The quartet's discography forms a significant part of their activity, comprising over 50 recordings with music ranging from Haydn to contemporary compositions, released by labels such as Chandos, ECM, EMI, and others. The quartet's earliest recordings included works by Aleksander Tansman, Krzysztof Penderecki, Zygmunt Krauze, and compositions by other Polish composers, especially from the last thirty years, which continue to constitute an essential part of the quartet's discography. This collection is recognized annually by the music community, as evidenced by nearly thirty nominations for the Fryderyk Award (several of which resulted in winning the statuette), a nomination from BBC Music Magazine for best chamber music recording, and the prestigious Gramophone Classical Music Award for the album featuring Grażyna Bacewicz's string quartets. A complete list of awards and distinctions, confirming the renown and legendary status of the Quartet's achievements, can be found in the awards and recognitions section at the ensemble's website.
More about the Quartet: https://kwartet-slaski.com