Jerusalem Quartet - Biography

Jerusalem Quartet was supported by Borletti-Buitoni Trust between 2003 and 2006. For an up to date biography visit www.impresariat-simmenauer.de

Alexander Pavlovsky violin
Sergei Bresler violin
Ori Kam viola
Kyril Zlotnikov cello

Passion, precision, warmth, a gold blend: these are the trademarks of this excellent Israeli string quartet

New York Times

Since the ensemble’s founding in 1993 and subsequent 1996 debut, the four Israeli musicians have embarked on a journey of growth and maturation. This journey has resulted in a wide repertoire and stunning depth of expression, which carries on the string quartet tradition in a unique manner. The ensemble has found its core in a warm, full, human sound and an egalitarian balance between high and low voices. This approach allows the quartet to maintain a healthy relationship between individual expression and a transparent and respectful presentation of the composer’s work. It is also the drive and motivation for the continuing refinement of its interpretations of the classical repertoire as well as exploration of new epochs.

The Jerusalem Quartet is a regular and beloved guest on the world’s great concert stages. With regular bi-annual visits to North America, the quartet has performed in cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington, and Cleveland as well as in the Ravinia Festival. In Europe, the quartet enjoys an enthusiastic reception with regular appearances in London’s Wigmore hall, Tonhalle Zürich, Munich Herkulessaal, Theatre des Champs-Elysées, as well as special guest performances at the Auditorium du Louvre Paris, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and festivals such as Salzburg, Verbier, Schleswig-Holstein, Schubertiade Schwarzenberg, Rheingau, Saint Petersburg white Nights and many others.

The Jerusalem Quartet records exclusively for Harmonia Mundi.

Last updated: October 2018

We have deliberately avoided participating in competitions, preferring instead to get our name established and known by performing. It was therefore both a great surprise and delight to be recipients of this award from which we can benefit in so many ways. Based in Israel, our expenses just to travel to Europe are enormous and concert fees just about cover our outgoings – there certainly hasn’t been any money left to cover such necessities as photos or publicity. What this award will give us is the chance to maximise our concert activities by enhancing our publicity. Even though our career wasn’t launched via a competition, things have developed very quickly and we have therefore all decided to take a few months off in order to further our individual studies. This award has enabled us to make the most of this break and some of the money from the Trust will be put towards subsidising the costs of our lessons. We are particularly looking forward to performing with Mitsuko – we know we will gain a tremendous amount from working with her.

Photographs by Felix Broede, David Hoskins