Spain and Latin America
Sara Bitlloch and Donald Grant - violins
Simone Van Der Giessen - viola
Marie Bitlloch - cello
Formed in 1998 at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, the Elias String Quartet has become one of the leading ensembles of its generation. The group takes its name from Elijah -Elias in German- the great oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn.
Recent highlights include a Beethoven cycle in Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, a Mendelssohn cycle at London’s Wigmore Hall, the East Neuk Festival’s 20th anniversary, a visit to the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Durham.
Acclaimed for their intensity, insight, and vibrant ensemble playing, the Elias Quartet has performed at many of the world’s leading venues, including the Vienna Musikverein, Berlin Konzerthaus, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Carnegie Hall in New York, and London’s Wigmore Hall.
A major artistic milestone for the ensemble was The Beethoven Project, in which they studied, performed, and recorded all of Beethoven’s string quartets for the Wigmore Hall Live label. The cycle was widely praised for its depth and expressive unity, marking the Elias Quartet as one of the foremost interpreters of this cornerstone repertoire. The project was also documented on their dedicated website, www.thebeethovenproject.com. This season, the quartet returns to the Beethoven quartets for another Beethoven cycle at the Wigmore Hall.
Alongside the classics, the quartet maintains a strong commitment to new music, commissioning works from composers such as Sally Beamish, Colin Matthews, and Matthew Hindson. Their collaborations have included performances and recordings with pianist Jonathan Biss, notably in piano quintets by Schumann and Dvořák.
The quartet studied with Dr. Christopher Rowland at the RNCM, later with the Alban Berg Quartet in Cologne, and in masterclasses with György Kurtág, Rainer Schmidt, Peter Cropper, and Paul Katz. The Elias Quartet first gained international attention as part of the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme and as recipients of a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award. From 2005 to 2009, they were also resident artists in Sheffield as part of Ensemble 360, following the Lindsay Quartet. More recently, they returned to their roots as Quartet in Residence at the RNCM, with visits combining performances, coaching, and side-by-side playing with the next generation of chamber musicians.
Celebrated for their passionate musicianship and fresh, imaginative interpretations, the Elias String Quartet continues to captivate audiences worldwide with performances that combine warmth, precision, and emotional intensity.
