Mozart String Quartets: Viennese Quartets K. 168-173 - Engegård Quartet

MOZART'S VIENNESE QUARTETS

Mozart: Viennese Quartets marks the final volume in the Engegård Quartet’s ambitious and deeply personal journey through Mozart’s complete string quartets. The six works featured here—K.168 to K.173—were composed in Vienna in 1773, a period of artistic growth and experimentation for the young composer. These quartets reveal Mozart’s increasing command of form and texture, blending elegance with emotional complexity and a bold sense of invention.

The music ranges from the lyrical and introspective to the playful and exuberant, with each quartet offering its own distinct character. The Engegård Quartet approaches these works with stylistic insight and expressive depth, illuminating Mozart’s subtle shifts in mood and structure. Their interpretation is marked by clarity, warmth and a finely tuned ensemble sound that brings out the full richness of the Viennese style. This release not only completes a major recording project but also celebrates the timeless vitality of Mozart’s chamber music.

Formed under the midnight sun in Lofoten in 2005, the Engegård Quartet has become one of Norway’s most sought-after ensembles. Their bold, fresh interpretations of classical repertoire, combined with a strong connection to their Scandinavian roots, have earned them international acclaim. The quartet has performed in prestigious venues such as the Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Rudolfinum in Prague, and their recordings have received awards and praise from critics across Europe.

On this recording the ensemble consists of violinist Arvid Engegård, violist Juliet Jopling, cellist Jan Clemens Carlsen and violinist Laura Custodio Sabas. Together, they bring a unique blend of experience, sensitivity and artistic vision to their performances, making the Engegård Quartet a vital voice in today’s chamber music landscape.