The Adastraquartet

Ad astra, reaching for the stars, reinventing artistic excellence, elevating the art of the string quartet by interpreting the universal repertoire through fraternal and supportive human bonds. A strong ambition at the heart of Quatuor Adastra's unique project.

Founded in Strasbourg in 2013, the Quatuor Adastra emerges at the heart of Europe, guided by the aesthetics of the French sound and the interaction of cultures on both sides of the Rhine, through a cross-border repertoire. Its members come from the most prestigious institutions (CNSMDP, HEAR, Freiburg Musikhorschule, Lausanne HEM) and combine excellence and diversity.

With a unique sensibility, combining modernity, tradition, transversality and openness, the Adastra Quartet interprets the great works of the repertoire and is committed to creation and transmission.

It commissions original works and collaborates with renowned composers of all generations, including Philippe Manoury, Sophie Lacaze, Pascal Dusapin, Xu Yi, Clara Olivares, Charles-David Wajnberg, Diana Soh and David Hudry.

Selected for the Philharmonie de Paris “Tremplin pour Jeunes Quatuors” in 2016, the Adastra Quartet is a regular guest at international festivals. In 2017 it received the Prix du Public and the Prix du Jeune Public at Moments Musicaux du Tarn, and in 2018 it was awarded the Fond'action Alsace prize.

Trained with the Quatuor Debussy and several times awarded scholarships by the Académie and Festival Musique à Flaine, the quartet has attended masterclasses at prestigious institutions such as Proquartet and ECMA. They have perfected their skills with such great masters of the genre as Yovan Markovitch, Luc-Marie Aguera (Quatuor Ysaÿe), Irvine Arditti, Hatto Beyerle (Quatuor Alban Berg) and the Danel, Manfred, Parisii and Ludwig quartets.

On the international scene, the Quatuor Adastra performs in Switzerland, Luxembourg, Poland and Croatia, as well as on major stages in France, such as the Philharmonie de Paris, Opéra National du Rhin, Le Maillon, La filature de Mulhouse, Parlement Européen, Festival Musica, Festival Musiques Démesurées and Festival de Wissembourg.

The quartet collaborates with many artists, including Pauline Haas, Wilhem Latchoumia, Anaïs Constans, José-Daniel Castellon, José-Maria Gallardo del Rey, Armand Angster and Pascal Schumacher.

The Quatuor Adastra is supported by the DRAC Grand Est, the City of Strasbourg, the Centre National de la Musique, La Maison de la Musique Contemporaine, SACEM and SPEDIDAM. It is also an associate member of FEVIS.