Julia Fischer holds a distinguished place amongst the great violinists of her generation. This German performer, born in Munich and a prize-winner at the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin Competition, has built a solid international career alongside the finest orchestras and conductors on the classical music scene. As well as being an accomplished pianist and teacher, she combines extraordinary technical mastery with exceptional virtuosity. Her extensive repertoire ranges from Johann Sebastian Bach to contemporary composers, with a particular fondness for the works of Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

At this concert in Thessaloniki, Greece, Fischer shares the stage with Alexander Sitkovetsky on violin, Nils Mönkemeyer on viola and Benjamin Nyffenegger on cello. Embodying the excellence of the German school, they take the audience on a journey through some of the great works of chamber music, beginning with Dmitri Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 3 in F major, a composition of great emotional intensity that remains faithful to the Russian composer’s approach. Meanwhile, Johannes Brahms’ String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, with its densely woven yet expressive texture, finds in these four musicians the perfect balance between power and delicacy. And to round it all off, Franz Schubert’s String Quartet No. 12 in C minor highlights the sophistication of the Austrian composer’s chamber music language. Known for his piano pieces and symphonies, this score allows the ensemble to display the elegance and intensity that characterise the 19th-century repertoire.