The Sonar Quartett was founded in 2006 and has been playing in its current formation with Susanne Zapf, Wojciech Garbowski (violin), Nikolaus Schlierf (viola) and Cosima Gerhardt (cello) since 2011. With a strong emphasis on 21st Century repertoire, the group has quickly gained an excellent reputation in the scene: “Their play combines accuracy and vigour with expressivity of sound and the most diligent attention to detail, resulting in breath-taking music-making.” (Gisela Nauck, “positionen”)
Numerous premieres in recent years, many of which were written for the quartet, show a close network to contemporary composers. With “a playfulness, emotion and experimental zest that one so rarely encounters on avant-garde podiums” (Frank Kämpfer, Deutschlandfunk), they are a welcome guest at contemporary music festivals, large and small, both at home and abroad.
In order to be able to programme their own ideas, the Sonar Quartet has set up several concert series: 2016/17, on the occasion of its 10th anniversary, the Sonar Quartett investigated the concept of “utopia”, exploring its current social relevance and the contingencies for application and interpretation it has to offer to the field of music.
As of January 2018