Leonkoro Quartet
Janáček & Schumann
Fortune certainly seems to favor the young Leonkoro Quartet around brothers Jonathan and Lukas Schwarz. The magical year of 2022 brought the foursome a slew of prestigious prizes during a triumphant musical tour through Europe. The name 'Leonkoro' in Esperanto is a nod to Astrid Lindgren's The Brothers Lionheart. Just like the beloved children's book, the great works for string quartet oscillate between darkness and comfort. This expressive richness also colours the programme that Leonkoro brings to Brussels. Janáček's first string quartet is a wordless rendition of Tolstoy's 'adultery novella' The Kreutzer Sonata. Intimate and full of compassion, it reveals the struggle of an aging composer with the unrequited love for his young muse. Schumann's third string quartet also aims straight for the heart, with sensual touches of colour and a surprisingly lyrical role for the viola.
Flagey, Klarafestival
‘The Leonkoro Quartet possesses an extraordinary stage presence, glows for the music, and embraces full artistic risk.’ – Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
