The Rincontro Quartet comes from a long-standing friendship.  Along 
with their commitment to chamber music, the artists, well known in the 
baroque music scene, divide their time between the major European 
groups such as  Le concert des nations (Jordi Savall), L'ensemble 415, 
L'ensemble baroque de Limoges, Concerto Vocale, Les Plaisirs du 
Parnasse and Café Zimmermann.  It was while working with Café 
Zimmermann that the idea of a collaboration was born, seeking to 
extend their repertoire from baroque into the classical quartet.

The originality of the Rincontro Quartet lies in their attention to 
the the precursors of the prestigious classical quartet repertoire. 
Historical performance practice is very important to the ensemble, and 
the musicians play instruments that allow them to express a common 
language, which is not a bad idea when each member of the ensemble is 
of a different nationality...  The name "Rincontro" comes from the 
title of the last movement of Richter's first quartet.

In 2006, the well-awaited CD of the Richter opus 5 quartets and Mozart 
canons was immediately awarded with a "Diapason d'Or" from the leading 
French classical music magazine.  Last year the "Trios for Nicolaus 
Esterhazy" by Joseph Haydn were released which were also very well 
received.

New recording:

Quartetti Fugati comming soon (10/2009)
www.zigzag-territoires.com

The CD coupling inspired arrangements by Mozart of fugues by 
J. S. Bach with Haydn quartets that feature a fugal movement and music 
by their contemporaries Werner and Albrechtsberger, highly esteemed by 
Emperor Joseph II, who even opened a special department for fugal 
forms in the imperial library in Vienna.