Le Dimore del Quartetto

ESPRESSO MASTERCLASS

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#ESPRESSOMASTERCLASS

Espresso Masterclass is a masterclass dedicated to chamber music and organized by Le Dimore del Quartetto under the artistic direction of Simone Gramaglia. A full immersion with international masters in the setting of historic mansions. The ensembles, selected by the artistic direction within the network of Le Dimore del Quartetto, participate free of charge.

EDITION 2025

From September 26 to 28, 2025, Cassine (Alessandria, Piedmont) will host Espresso Masterclass for the fifth consecutive year, an event celebrating excellence in chamber music. This special edition features the extraordinary participation of the Quartetto di Cremona masters, ready to guide and inspire young ensembles in a unique musical experience.

The ensembles selected for 2025 are the Shiraz Quartet, the Jouska Quartet and the New Era Quartet, who will have the opportunity to engage with top-level professionals.

Lessons will be led by Cristiano Gualco, Paolo Andreoli, Simone Gramaglia, and Giovanni Scaglione, offering an intensive program of refinement and musical deepening.

Concerts and open lessons will bring life to some of Cassine’s most evocative venues: Casa Arcasio, Oratorio SS Trinità, Palazzo Zoppi, Villa Felice, and Chiesa di S. Francesco, creating a dialogue between music, history, and community.

THE PROGRAM 2025

SEPTEMBER 26
FROM 2.30 PM TO 6.30 PM Open rehearsals at Oratorio SS. Trinità and at Casa Arcasio
AT 7 PM Concert of New Era Quartet at Oratorio SS. Trinità
 
SEPTEMBER 27
FROM 11.30 AM TO 1 PM Open rehearsals at Oratorio SS. Trinità and at Casa Arcasio
FROM 2 PM TO 3.30 PM Open rehearsals at Casa Arcasio
 
SEPTEMBER 28
FROM 9.45 AM TO 10.45 AM Open rehearsals at Oratorio SS. Trinità and at Casa Arcasio
AT 11 AM Concert of Shiraz Quartet at Villa Felice
AT 14.30 PM Concert of Jouska Quartet at Palazzo Zoppi
AT 4.30 PM Concert of Corpo Bandistico Cassinese “Francesco Solia”

Cristiano Gualco violin | Paolo Andreoli violin
Simone Gramaglia viola | Giovanni Scaglione cello

Since its formation in 2000, the Quartetto di Cremona has established a reputation as one of the most exciting chamber ensembles on the international stage. Regularly invited to perform in major music festivals and halls in Europe, North and South America, and Far East, receiving unanimous acclaim from the public and critics…

Among the most important engagements of the past seasons: performances at the Wigmore Hall (London), at the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), at the Elbphilharmonie (Hamburg), at the Konzerthaus in Berlin, at the Brucknerhaus (Linz), in Geneva, Stockholm, Mumbai, Beijing, at the Schubertiade in Schwarzenberg, at the String Quartet Festival in Salzburg, in Prague and for the main Italian festivals and concerts societies.

In the 23/24 season, the acclaimed debut at Carnegie Hall (October 2023) was followed by Chamber Music Society’s re-invitation to Lincoln Center, in March 2024. The first performance at CMS took successfully place in February 2022.

The Cremona is also collaborating with numerous artists such as Eckart Runge, Till Fellner, Pablo Barragan, Kit Armstrong, Miguel da Silva, David Orlowsky, Kyril Zlotnikov, the Emerson String Quartet and the Pavel Haas Quartet.

During the 2024/2025 season, the ensemble celebrates its 25th Career Anniversary, with concerts in prestigious Italian and international festivals and concert societies.

On the discographic side, a new CD will soon be released with the ensemble own version of The Art of Fugue, performed with seven instruments so as not to alter the original writing of Bach’s score, which will be published for the 25th anniversary of their career.
Previous recordings include: “Italian Postcards” (2020, Avie Records); a double CD dedicated to Schubert (2019, Audite); the complete Beethoven String Quartets (20128, Audite). All of them were received with great interest by international critics, as well as winning discographic prizes.

Frequently invited to present masterclasses in Europe, Asia, North and South America, the members of the quartet have been Professors at the Walter Stauffer Academy in Cremona since 2011.
Prized in 2019 with the “Franco Buitoni Award” by the Borletti Buitoni Trust for their constant contribution to the promotion of chamber music in Italy and around the world, they are ambassadors for the international project “Friends of Stradivari” and honorary citizen of Cremona, a title awarded to the Quartet in 2015. They also endorse “Le Dimore del Quartetto” and Thomastik Infield Strings.

Espresso Masterclass

AZALAÏS QUARTET
Netherlands

MOSER STRING QUARTET
Switzerland

ZORÀ QUARTET
United States

ERINYS QUARTET
Finlandia

PAST EDITIONS

Edition 2024 of Espresso Masterclass was held in Cassine (province of Alessandria – Piemonte) from September 27 th to September 29th. 
Selected ensembles are Doré Quartet, Hera Quartet e Kyan Quartet.

Lessons were held by Simone Gramaglia (viola of Quartetto di Cremona and Artistic Director of Le Dimore del Quartetto), Arben Llozi (Professors of viola and chamber music at University of Arts di Tirana) and Kyril Zlotnikov (cello of Jerusalem Quartet).

Concerts and open lessons were hosted at  Casa Arcasio, Villa Felice, Palazzo Zoppi e Chiesa di S. Francesco.

CALENDAR OF CONCERT | 2024

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH
Concert by the Doré Quartet at Casa Arcasio

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH
Concert by Hera Quartet and Kyan Quartet at Chiesa di San Francesco

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH 
Concert by the Hera Quartet at Villa Felice
Concert of the Kyan Quartet at Palazzo Zoppi

MAESTROS

SIMONE GRAMAGLIA

Simone Gramaglia is considered one of the best violists of his generation. A founding member of Quartetto di Cremona, throughout his career he has performed in the world’s most prestigious concert halls and collaborated with influential figures on the international music scene. His chamber and solo repertoire ranges from Bach to the 20th century, with a particular focus on Contemporary Music. Simone Gramaglia combines his passion for music with that for philosophy and literature, through an intense activity as a musician, teacher and artistic director (Le Dimore del Quartetto, MusicwithMasters, Sergio Dragoni Competition) that has allowed him to constantly promote musical culture, doing his best to support young people in particular. He was the first Italian violist to play Stradivari’s “Paganini” viola for an extended period (Nippon Music Foundation). He writes the column “L’Angolo del Quartetto” in Archi Magazine.

ARBEN LLOZI

Arben Llozi is an Albanian violist, conductor, and professor at the University of Arts in Tirana, where he has taught since 1989. He has led masterclasses and performed in concerts worldwide, from solo performances to ensembles like the Alban Quartet and the Tirana Philharmonic Orchestra. He has premiered over 80 works by Albanian and foreign composers and participated in numerous international festivals. Llozi has held various leadership roles, including Vice-Rector and Head of the Department of Interpretation, and is currently the Dean of the Music Faculty. He is also an active member of multiple artistic committees and juries, receiving several awards and honors.

KYRIL ZLOTNIKOV

Kyril Zlotnikov, born in Minsk, Belarus, is a celebrated cellist and founding member of the Jerusalem Quartet. He studied under renowned teachers and participated in masterclasses with artists like Yo-Yo Ma and Isaac Stern. Zlotnikov has performed with prestigious orchestras worldwide, including the Israel Philharmonic and West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, and collaborated with conductors like Daniel Barenboim and Zubin Mehta. He is a regular at major festivals and has shared the stage with top musicians. Zlotnikov has served as a jury member for international competitions and recorded extensively, including the complete Mozart piano trios with Daniel Barenboim.

The 2023 edition of Espresso Masterclass returns to Cassine (in the province of Alessandria – Piedmont) from September 22nd to September 24th. The ensemble selected are Cuarteto Iberia, M4GNET Quartet e Quartetto Rilke. 

Lessons are held by Simone Gramaglia (viola of Quartetto di Cremona and artistic director of Le Dimore del Quartetto), Marc Danel (violinist of Quatuor Danel and artistic director of Dutch National String Quartet Academy) and Peter Jarůšek (cello of Pavel Haas Quartet). 

Musicians are hosted at Casa Arcasio, Villa Felice and Palazzo Zoppi. 

CONCERTS 2023

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD 
Concert of M4GNET Quartet, Quartetto Rilke and Cuarteto Iberia at Chiesa di San Francesco

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH
Concert of Cuarteto Iberia at Casa Arcasio.
Concert of Quartetto Rilke at Palazzo Zoppi.
Concert of M4GNET Quartet at Villa Felice.

MAESTROS

SIMONE GRAMAGLIA

Simone Gramaglia is considered one of the best violists of his generation. A founding member of Quartetto di Cremona, throughout his career he has performed in the world’s most prestigious concert halls and collaborated with influential figures on the international music scene. His chamber and solo repertoire ranges from Bach to the 20th century, with a particular focus on Contemporary Music. Simone Gramaglia combines his passion for music with that for philosophy and literature, through an intense activity as a musician, teacher and artistic director (Le Dimore del Quartetto, MusicwithMasters, Sergio Dragoni Competition) that has allowed him to constantly promote musical culture, doing his best to support young people in particular. He was the first Italian violist to play Stradivari’s “Paganini” viola for an extended period (Nippon Music Foundation). He writes the column “L’Angolo del Quartetto” in Archi Magazine.

MARC DANEL

Marc Danel , founder and first violin of the Danel String Quartet since 1991, has played regularly with the Amadeus and Borodine Quartets and also with musicians such as Walter Levin, Fiodor Droujinine, Hugh Maguire and Pierre Penassou. Since his debut with the Quartet, Marc Danel has played regularly in Europe’s most prestigious halls such as Amsterdam Concertgebouw, London Wigmore Hall, Frankfurt Alte Oper, Paris Salle Gaveau, and Moscou Conservatory.
Danel Quartet has more than 30 recordings to its credit and reveals itself as a chamber ensemble open to creation and the world, collaborating with many composers.
He is artistic director of the Nederlandse Strijkkwartet Akademie (Amsterdam) and professor of violin at the Conservatoire de Lyon (CNSMD). Marc Danel also works as a violin professor at the Higher School of Music and Education in Namur (Belgium). He gives master classes at the Royal College of London and also at the Conservatory of Minsk (Belarus). He has been in artistic residence with the Danel Quartet at the University of Manchester (UK) since 2005.

PETER JARŮŠEK

Since 2004, cellist Peter Jarůšek has been a member of the Pavel Haas Quartet, founded two years earlier by his wife Veronika Jarůšková. In 2005 the quartet, one of the world’s most acclaimed chamber groups, won the prestigious Paolo Borciani Prize in Reggio Emilia and the Prague Spring International Competition. A year later, the quartet joined the “BBC New Generation Artists” project in London, and at the same time the European Concert Hall Organization named it one of its “Rising Stars.” To date, the quartet has released eight CDs on the Supraphon label. All of their albums have won major international awards: the Diapason d’Or de l’année, the BBC Music Magazine Award twice, and the Gramophone Award six times. In addition to playing in the quartet, Peter Jarůšek performs regularly in the most renowned concert halls and festivals and is a sought-after lecturer in chamber music master classes around the world.

The edition of Espresso Masterclass in Lurago Marinone, in the province of Como, took place on October 15th and 16th, 2022, thanks to Francesco Micheli that with the Fondazione Musicale Umberto Micheli hosted and supported the organization, making it possible for the masterclasses to be free of charge.

The ensembles protagonists of this edition have been the  Barbican Quartet (United Kingdom), the Kleio Quartet (United Kingdom) and the Trio Sheliak (Italy).

Over the course of the weekend, the musicians-in-residence had the opportunity to participate in classes held by  Simone Gramaglia, viola of Quartetto di Cremona, and members of the Kuss Quartet, Jana Kuss, Oliver Wille, William Coleman and Mikayel Hakhnazaryan.  

MAESTROS

SIMONE GRAMAGLIA

Simone Gramaglia is considered one of the best violists of his generation. A founding member of Quartetto di Cremona, throughout his career he has performed in the world’s most prestigious concert halls and collaborated with influential figures on the international music scene. His chamber and solo repertoire ranges from Bach to the 20th century, with a particular focus on Contemporary Music. Simone Gramaglia combines his passion for music with that for philosophy and literature, through an intense activity as a musician, teacher and artistic director (Le Dimore del Quartetto, MusicwithMasters, Sergio Dragoni Competition) that has allowed him to constantly promote musical culture, doing his best to support young people in particular. He was the first Italian violist to play Stradivari’s “Paganini” viola for an extended period (Nippon Music Foundation). He writes the column “L’Angolo del Quartetto” in Archi Magazine.

KUSS QUARTET

The Kuss Quartet has been setting new standards for many years with its ambitious concept-based programming. Its mission is to offer unique experiences to traditional audiences and new listeners alike. Leader Jana Kuss and second violinist Oliver Wille have been playing side by side for over 30 years. With curiosity, they and their long-standing colleagues, William Coleman and Mikayel Hakhnazaryan, seek confirmation of the eternal “muss es sein” of string quartet playing. In 2019, the Kuss Quartet was the first German string quartet to be lent the legendary Stradivari “Paganini Quartet” by the Nippon Music Foundation. On these instruments, the quartet played the complete string quartets of Beethoven in June 2019 at the invitation of Suntory Hall Tokyo. Today, the Kuss Quartet inspires the next generation in frequent master classes. William Coleman (Salzburg) and Oliver Wille (Hanover, Birmingham, Biella) are professors at European universities, while Mikayel Hakhnazaryan teaches chamber music at the Hochschule in Karlsruhe and Jana Kuss at the Accademia Perosi in Biella (Italy).

 Espresso Masterclass returns to Cassine (in the province of Alessandria-Piedmont) from September 23rd to September 25th.
The selected quartets, Trio Hermes, Quartetto Alioth e Erinys Quartet will be hosted at Casa Arcasio, Villa Felice and Casa Dapino. 
The classes will be held by  Simone Gramaglia (Quartetto di Cremona’s viola and Le Dimore del Quartetto’s Artistic Director), Jennifer Stumm (professor of viola at the University of Music and Arts of the City of Vienna and International Chair of Viola Studies at the Royal College of Music in London) and Mark Messenger (Head of Strings and professor of violin at the Royal College of Music of London). 

CONCERTS

Friday, September 23rd Trio Hermes at Casa Arcasio, Cassine (AL) 

Saturday, September 24thErinys Quartet at Chiesa di San Francesco, Cassine (AL)

Sunday, September 25thQuartetto Alioth at Chiesa di San Francesco, Cassine (AL)

MAESTROS

SIMONE GRAMAGLIA
A versatile and intellectually curious musician, Simone Gramaglia combines his passion for music, philosophy and literature with an intense activity as a musician (both in chamber music and as a soloist), as a teacher and as an artistic director (Le Dimore del Quartetto, MusicWithMasters, Sergio Dragoni Competition) allowing him to constantly promote musical culture and supporting in particular young people. During his career he has performed in the most prestigious concert halls in the world and has collaborated with influential figures on the international music scene. He was the first Italian violist to play for a long time the viola “Paganini” by Stradivari (Nippon Music Foundation).

JENNIFER STUMM

Violist and conductor, Jennifer Stumm is known for the “opaline beauty” (Washington Post) of her sound, Jennifer has appeared on the world’s great stages such as Carnegie Hall, the Berliner Philharmonie, the Kennedy Center and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. She is a winner of the William Primrose, Geneva and Concert Artist Guild competitions and the prestigious BBC New Generation Artist and Borletti Buitoni Trust awards (she was the first violist ever to win first prize). She is founder and director of Ilumina, an artist collective and social equity initiative based in São Paulo that promotes emerging artists. 

Jennifer Stumm is a professor of viola at the University of Music and Arts of the City of Vienna, holds the International Chair of Viola Studies at the Royal College of Music in London, gives master classes around the world, and is particularly interested in the interaction between the arts and the field of innovation and technology and how that interaction can impact social progress, productivity, and the world of ideas; her talk on the viola and the fortune of being different “The Imperfect Instrument” went viral on TEDx and was named “editor’s pick.”

MARK MESSENGER

Mark Messenger is a violinist, conductor and teacher.
As a soloist, conductor, and chamber musician (a member of the Bochmann and Bingham Quartets since 1984), he has worked internationally with – among others – Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Ivy Gitlis, Maxim Vengerov, Bernard Greenhouse, Natalie Clein, Raphael Wallfisch, Thomas Carroll, Yonty Solomon, Howard Shelley, John Lill, Dame Thea King, Michael Collins, David Campbell, Chris Garrick, and Sir John Dankworth.
He regularly serves on international commissions as a judge and external examiner and gives master classes and lectures around the world. In 2004 he was appointed artistic director of London String Quartet Week and served on the board of the London String Quartet Foundation. He has worked with Oxford University Press, New Holland Publishing, and the Associated Board, for which he has just completed the edition of the complete works for violin and piano by Edward Elgar.
In addition to being head of strings at the Royal College of Music in London, Mark Messenger is also a consultant to the Norwegian Academy in Oslo.

Espresso Masterclass 2022 has been realized with the support of

Espresso Masterclass 2021 has taken place in Cassine (Province of Alessandria) from September 24th to26th, 2021. 
The selected quartets, Azalaïs Quartet, Moser String Quartet and Zorà Quartet have been hosted at Casa Arcasio and Villa Felice.
The classes have been held by Simone Gramaglia (coordinator, violist of Quartetto di Cremona and artistic director of Le Dimore del Quartetto), Jana Kuss (violin) and Martti Rousi (cello).

CONCERTS | 2021

Friday, September 24th Moser String Quartet at Oratorio della S.S. Trinità, Cassine (AL)
Saturday, September 25th Zorá Quartet at Chiesa di San Francesco, Cassine (AL)
Sunday, September 26th Azalaïs Quartet at Chiesa di San Francesco, Cassine (AL)

MAESTROS

SIMONE GRAMAGLIA
A versatile and intellectually curious musician, Simone Gramaglia combines his passion for music, philosophy and literature with an intense activity as a musician (both in chamber music and as a soloist), as a teacher and as an artistic director (Le Dimore del Quartetto, MusicWithMasters, Sergio Dragoni Competition) allowing him to constantly promote musical culture and supporting in particular young people. During his career he has performed in the most prestigious concert halls in the world and has collaborated with influential figures on the international music scene. He was the first Italian violist to play for a long time the viola “Paganini” by Stradivari (Nippon Music Foundation).

JANA KUSS

Jana Kuss, Primaria of the Kuss Quartet, was born and grew up in East Berlin and received her first violin lessons at the age of six. She studied with Prof. Eberhard Feltz at the special music school Hanns Eisler (the “Carl-Philipp-Emanuel Bach Gymnasium”) who also became later the mentor of the quartet founded in 1991 with Oliver Wille. Jana Kuss was awarded a scholarship by the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes and studied violin with Prof. Adelina Oprean in Basel, with Prof. Thomas Brandis in Berlin and together with the quartet at the New England Conservatory Boston with Prof. Paul Katz (Cleveland Quartet). She received other important impulses by Walter Levin and György Kurtág. The successful career of the Kuss Quartet continued to develop as the ensemble won both the German Music Council Prize and the coveted Quartet Award “Premio Paolo Borciani” in 2002. Since then, they perform on all important national and international podiums of concert halls and festivals, passing on their experience and knowledge in masterclasses. Jana Kuss’ duo partner has been pianist Eric Schneider since season 2013/14.

She plays a violin by Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi (Milan 1756).

MARTTI ROUSI

One of Finland’s leading instrumentalists, Martti Rousi began his studies in his hometown of Turku in 1968 and studied with Timo Hanhinen and Seppo Kimanen and then with Arto Noras at the Sibelius Academy. Already in 1982 he won first prize in the Turku cello competition, after which he played with all the major Finnish orchestras. In 1986 Rousi won the silver medal at the prestigious Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow. Since then he has performed with leading Scandinavian and European orchestras. Since 1993 Rousi has been the artistic director of the Turku music festival, and in 1995 he became a professor at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.

The masterclass #2 was held at Villa Valvitiano in Perugia (Italy) from September 14th to 16th, 2020, by Maestros of exception such as Simone Gramaglia, Jana Kuss, Enrico Bronzi and Vanessa Benelli Mosell. The ensembles selected to participate are the Trio Bohémo, Chaos String Quartet and Quatuor Tchalik.

Thanks to Ilaria Borletti, president of the Borletti Buitoni Trust and creator of the Franco Buitoni Award, for hosting and supporting the organization, making it possible for the masterclasses to be free of charge.

MAESTROS

SIMONE GRAMAGLIA
A versatile and intellectually curious musician, Simone Gramaglia combines his passion for music, philosophy and literature with an intense activity as a musician (both in chamber music and as a soloist), as a teacher and as an artistic director (Le Dimore del Quartetto, MusicWithMasters, Sergio Dragoni Competition) allowing him to constantly promote musical culture and supporting in particular young people. During his career he has performed in the most prestigious concert halls in the world and has collaborated with influential figures on the international music scene. He was the first Italian violist to play for a long time the viola “Paganini” by Stradivari (Nippon Music Foundation).

JANA KUSS

Jana Kuss, Primaria of the Kuss Quartet, was born and grew up in East Berlin and received her first violin lessons at the age of six. She studied with Prof. Eberhard Feltz at the special music school Hanns Eisler (the “Carl-Philipp-Emanuel Bach Gymnasium”) who also became later the mentor of the quartet founded in 1991 with Oliver Wille. Jana Kuss was awarded a scholarship by the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes and studied violin with Prof. Adelina Oprean in Basel, with Prof. Thomas Brandis in Berlin and together with the quartet at the New England Conservatory Boston with Prof. Paul Katz (Cleveland Quartet). She received other important impulses by Walter Levin and György Kurtág. The successful career of the Kuss Quartet continued to develop as the ensemble won both the German Music Council Prize and the coveted Quartet Award “Premio Paolo Borciani” in 2002. Since then, they perform on all important national and international podiums of concert halls and festivals, passing on their experience and knowledge in masterclasses. Jana Kuss’ duo partner has been pianist Eric Schneider since season 2013/14.

She plays a violin by Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi (Milan 1756).

ENRICO BRONZI

Cellist and conductor. As soloist, Enrico Bronzi has won the most prestigious international competitions and has collaborated with great artists such as Martha Argerich, Alexander Lonquich, Gidon Kremer, and ensembles like Hagen Quartet, Kremerata Baltica, Camerata Salzburg and Tapiola Sinfonietta. Bronzi has coupled his soloist activity with his career with Trio di Parma, founded in 1990. Since 2007, he has been teaching at Universität Mozarteum Salzburg.

VANESSA BENELLI MOSELL

Italian pianist Vanessa Benelli Mosell is a rising star on the international music scene, continuously praised for her dazzling virtuosity, technical brilliance and the sensitivity of her musical insight that she brings to her piano playing , as well as to her conducting and directing from the keyboard. Benelli Mosell’s charismatic artistry and natural leadership are quickly establishing her as one of the most interesting personalities in the young conductor’s generation. Combining sheer power and boundless imagination, her electrifying musicality has been shaped significantly in mentorships with Karlheinz Stockhausen and Yuri Bashmet. As a chamber music performer she collaborated with Renaud and Gautier Capuçon, Julian Rachlin, Vadim Repin, Massimo Quarta, Daishin Kashimoto, Radovan Vlatkovich, Henri Demarquette.

The masterclass #1 was held at Villa Valvitiano in Perugia (Italy) from October 4th to 6th 2019, by Maestros of exception such as Simone Gramaglia, Sergei Bresler and Jamie Walton. The ensembles selected to participate are the Quatuor Bergen, Quartetto Eos and Trio Immersio.

Thanks to Ilaria Borletti, president of the Borletti Buitoni Trust and creator of the Franco Buitoni Award, for hosting and supporting the organization, making it possible for the masterclasses to be free of charge.

MAESTROS

SIMONE GRAMAGLIA
A versatile and intellectually curious musician, Simone Gramaglia combines his passion for music, philosophy and literature with an intense activity as a musician (both in chamber music and as a soloist), as a teacher and as an artistic director (Le Dimore del Quartetto, MusicWithMasters, Sergio Dragoni Competition) allowing him to constantly promote musical culture and supporting in particular young people. During his career he has performed in the most prestigious concert halls in the world and has collaborated with influential figures on the international music scene. He was the first Italian violist to play for a long time the viola “Paganini” by Stradivari (Nippon Music Foundation).

SERGEI BRESLER

Sergei Bresler was born in Ukraine in 1978 and immigrated to Israel in 1991. He is the second violin and founding member of the internationally acclaimed Jerusalem Quartet which performs regularly in the most famous venues in the world including Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam and Berlin Konzerthaus. Sergei has performed as a soloist with Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Young Philharmonic Orchestra and Ludwigsburg Symphony Orchestra. As a chamber music teacher Sergei has given masterclasses in lots of famous venues as the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Young Philarmonic Orchestra, the Ludwigsburg Symphony Orchestra, and many others.

JAMIE WALTON

A powerfully versatile cellist and somewhat of a maverick, Jamie Walton combines a career in both chamber and solo capacities, appearing throughout much of Europe, USA, New Zealand, Scandinavia, Canada, Australia and the UK. Having performed with many of the British finest orchestras such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Philharmonia, Jamie has also recorded thirteen concertos: three with the RPO and ten with the Philharmonia which include the Dvorak and Schumann under Vladimir Ashkenazy. Further to this, Jamie’s discography with Signum Classics extends to much of the sonata repertoire and the complete works for cello by Benjamin Britten.

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Alongside artistic, educational and social activities, Le Dimore del Quartetto offers “tailored” support designed to accompany ensembles in the network through the different phases of career development and consolidation. In a complex and highly competitive professional environment, this set of services responds to the need to complement musical talent with concrete tools for orientation, visibility and project development.

The promotion of ensembles takes place through a targeted and ongoing communication strategy, including presence on institutional channels, social media, specialized platforms and within collaborative projects. This promotional work helps increase artists’ visibility and expand their professional opportunities, facilitating encounters with new audiences, partners and programming contexts.

At the same time, Le Dimore del Quartetto provides personalized consultancy for the development of musical projects and grant applications, offering musicians professional support. This guidance fosters greater project autonomy and enables ensembles to structure their artistic path more effectively.

Le Dimore del Quartetto promotes initiatives that carry ensembles beyond a traditional performance setting, engaging schools, penitentiary institutions and contexts of social vulnerability. These projects stem from the belief that chamber music can be a powerful tool for inclusion, dialogue and cultural transformation, capable of reaching diverse audiences and stimulating new forms of listening and participation. At the same time, these represent an important opportunity for growth for the musicians, who are called upon to engage with non-specialist audiences, develop communication skills and rethink their social and artistic role.

In the educational field, Le Dimore del Quartetto has developed projects such as ABITO – Bringing culture into schools for conscious citizenship, Do Re Milano – Discovering cultural heritage through music, and Fortissimo – Emotions between music and words, in collaboration with cultural institutions, foundations and educational partners, which aim to bring new generations closer to musical and cultural heritage through direct and participatory experiences.

In penitentiary contexts, initiatives such as Musica e Parole, carried out at the Casa di Reclusione di Opera (Milan), use the fusion between music and words as a space for listening, reflection and sharing, enhancing personal expression and human exchange.

Alongside these interventions, projects in informal contexts such as Backstage Conversations foster encounters between musicians and artists from different musical worlds, helping to break down barriers, overcome prejudice and build bridges between seemingly distant languages.

The sound created by an ensemble is the result of an encounter between talent, vision and high-quality instruments. For a young quartet or trio, access to excellent instruments can represent a decisive step in the development of their musical identity and career.

In this context, The String Circle was conceptualised and promoted by Le Dimore del Quartetto in collaboration with the Fondazione Museo del Violino Antonio Stradivari, Fondazione Cologni and the Michelangelo Foundation. The project connects the excellence of the luthiers’ craft with the new generation of chamber music ensembles. Through an international network of luthiers and bow makers selected from among the finest European workshops, the project fosters encounters between young musicians and high-quality instruments, while at the same time enhancing contemporary artisanal knowledge.

Participating luthiers offer instruments on free loan, specialized maintenance services and the possibility of later purchase under preferential conditions at the end of the loan period. Workshops are geolocated on an interactive map that transforms the network into a truly global collection, accessible to all musicians of the Le Dimore del Quartetto network.

Alongside this network, Le Dimore del Quartetto collaborates with some of the most prestigious Italian private collections – including the Fondazione Antonio Carlo Monzino, the Adriana Verchiani Farulli Collection, the Cosimo Bisiach Family Collection and the Domenica and Giulia Regazzoni Collection – which provide historic instruments of extraordinary value.

One of Le Dimore del Quartetto’s main missions is its commitment to advanced training, understood as a fundamental tool for accompanying the artistic and professional growth of chamber music ensembles. This commitment is ensured through the offer of free, top-level courses, the facilitated access to training through the organization of residencies, and the possibility of benefiting from preferential conditions when participating in masterclasses and advanced study programmes.
Thanks to a consolidated network of partnerships with international festivals and academies, Le Dimore del Quartetto promotes more accessable training by offering reduced fees for participation in high-level masterclasses and courses and, in some cases, exemption from registration fees, as is the case with the summer seminars of the Accademia Chigiana in Siena.
Moreover, Le Dimore del Quartetto organizes its annual Espresso Masterclass, an intensive training experience with internationally renowned teachers, hosted in the network’s historic residences.
This intention is also persued through MUSA – European Young MUsicians Soft Skills Alliance, a European project dedicated to young string quartets and focused on the development of all essential entrepreneurial and professional skills necessary for a musical career. All educational content has been made available to the network through a Handbook and Lecture Notes.

Taken together, these initiatives are a testament to the Le Dimore’s commitment in promoting the professional development of ensembles through a solid and accessible educational approach.

Our network, selected by concert societies and international festivals, enables allows musicians to perform in highly prestigious contexts, reaching new audiences and building a solid artistic reputation.

We organize and support projects that foster the touring of musicians, creating concrete engagement opportunities. Our Artistic Direction evaluates requests from concert organizations, institutions, foundations and festivals, selecting the most suitable ensembles through a bespoke process. This allows musicians to access professionally paid opportunities and to be included in high-calibre programmes.

Artistic residencies are the foundation of our circular economy. Every year, hundreds of musicians find a place for focus, study, research and encounter, in our residences, immersed in settings that inspire and regenerate musical work. When an ensemble has an engagement far from home (a competition, a masterclass, a recording project or a tour), they may request free hospitality at a residence within the network for up to one week. Requests must be submitted at least two months in advance, in order to allow for a careful selection and one most suitable to the context. In exchange for their hospitality, the musicians offer the owners a concert, which may be either private or open to the local community. This gesture rekindles the long-standing relationships between historic residences and music, transforming hospitality into a cultural dialogue.

For musicians, a residency represents logistical and economic relief, but also the fundemental gift of:

• quiet spaces that foster concentration on new repertoires,
• historic halls that become ideal environments for recording,
• gardens and landscapes capable of inspiring new reflections and interpretations,
• opportunities to meet composers, patrons and art lovers.

For owners, the arrival of musicians is a moment of vitality and openness: music fills the rooms, the residence becomes a temporary cultural hub, and the local community discovers new opportunities for encounter.

Through this form of exchange, neither party is a “beneficiary”: both give and receive. Musicians find a home; residences rediscover a voice.

Accanto alle attività artistiche, formative e sociali, Le Dimore del Quartetto offre un supporto “sartoriale” pensato per accompagnare gli ensemble della rete nelle diverse fasi di avvio e consolidamento della carriera. In un contesto professionale complesso e altamente competitivo, questo insieme di servizi risponde alla necessità di affiancare al talento musicale strumenti concreti di orientamento, visibilità e progettazione.

La valorizzazione degli ensemble avviene attraverso una strategia di comunicazione mirata e continuativa, che include la presenza sui canali istituzionali, sui social media, su piattaforme specializzate e all’interno di progetti collaborativi. Questo lavoro di promozione contribuisce ad aumentare la visibilità degli artisti e ad ampliare le loro opportunità professionali, facilitando l’incontro con nuovi pubblici, partner e contesti di programmazione.

Parallelamente, Le Dimore del Quartetto mette a disposizione consulenze personalizzate per lo sviluppo di progetti musicali e la scrittura di bandi, offrendo ai musicisti un supporto professionale. Questo accompagnamento favorisce una maggiore autonomia progettuale e consente agli ensemble di strutturare in modo più efficace il proprio percorso artistico.

Le Dimore del Quartetto promuove iniziative che portano gli ensemble della rete al di fuori dei contesti tradizionali di esecuzione, coinvolgendo scuole, istituti penitenziari e contesti di fragilità sociale. Questi progetti nascono dalla convinzione che la musica da camera possa essere uno strumento potente di inclusione, dialogo e trasformazione culturale, capace di avvicinare pubblici diversi e di stimolare nuove forme di ascolto e partecipazione. Allo stesso tempo, rappresentano un’importante occasione di crescita per i musicisti, chiamati a confrontarsi con pubblici non specialistici, a sviluppare competenze comunicative e a ripensare il proprio ruolo sociale e artistico.

In ambito scolastico, Le Dimore del Quartetto realizza progetti come ABITO – La cultura a scuola per una cittadinanza consapevole, Do Re Milano – Alla scoperta del patrimonio culturale attraverso la musica e Fortissimo – Emozioni tra musica e parole, in collaborazione con istituzioni culturali, fondazioni e partner educativi, con l’obiettivo di avvicinare le nuove generazioni al patrimonio musicale e culturale attraverso esperienze dirette e partecipate.

In contesti penitenziari, iniziative come Musica e Parole, realizzata presso la Casa di Reclusione di Opera (Milano), utilizzano il dialogo tra musica e parola come spazio di ascolto, riflessione e condivisione, valorizzando l’espressione personale e il confronto umano.

Accanto a questi interventi, progetti in contesti informali come Backstage Conversations favoriscono l’incontro tra musicisti e artisti provenienti da mondi musicali differenti, contribuendo ad abbattere barriere, superare pregiudizi e costruire ponti tra linguaggi apparentemente distanti.

Il suono di un ensemble è il risultato dell’incontro tra talento, visione e strumenti di qualità. Per un giovane quartetto o trio, accedere a strumenti eccellenti può rappresentare un passaggio decisivo nello sviluppo della propria identità musicale e della carriera.

In questa prospettiva si inserisce The String Circle, progetto ideato da Le Dimore del Quartetto e promosso in collaborazione con la Fondazione Museo del Violino Antonio Stradivari, che mette in relazione l’eccellenza dell’arte liutaria con la nuova generazione di ensemble di musica da camera. Attraverso una rete internazionale di liutai e archettai selezionati tra le migliori botteghe europee, il progetto favorisce l’incontro tra giovani musicisti e strumenti di alta qualità, valorizzando al contempo il sapere artigianale contemporaneo.

I liutai che aderiscono al progetto offrono strumenti in comodato d’uso gratuito, servizi di manutenzione specializzata e la possibilità di acquisto a condizioni agevolate al termine del periodo di utilizzo. Le botteghe sono geolocalizzate in una mappa interattiva che trasforma la rete in una vera e propria collezione diffusa, accessibile ai musicisti della rete de Le Dimore del Quartetto. Il progetto è realizzato in collaborazione con il Museo del Violino A. Stradivari, la Fondazione Cologni e la Michelangelo Foundation.

Accanto a questa rete, Le Dimore del Quartetto collabora con alcune delle più prestigiose collezioni private italiane, che mettono a disposizione strumenti storici di straordinario valore, tra cui la Fondazione Antonio Carlo Monzino, la Collezione Adriana Verchiani Farulli, la Collezione della Famiglia Cosimo Bisiach e la Collezione Domenica e Giulia Regazzoni. Per un giovane musicista.

Una delle principali direttrici d’azione de Le Dimore del Quartetto è l’impegno nell’ambito dell’alta formazione, intesa come strumento fondamentale per accompagnare la crescita artistica e professionale degli ensemble di musica da camera. Questo impegno si concretizza nell’offerta di corsi gratuiti di alto livello, nell’agevolazione dell’accesso alla formazione attraverso l’organizzazione di residenze e nella possibilità di usufruire di condizioni agevolate per la partecipazione a masterclass e percorsi di perfezionamento.

Grazie a una rete consolidata di partenariati con festival e accademie internazionali, Le Dimore del Quartetto favorisce un accesso più equo alla formazione, offrendo condizioni agevolate per la partecipazione a masterclass e corsi di alto livello e, in alcuni casi, l’esenzione dalle tasse di iscrizione, come per i seminari estivi dell’Accademia Chigiana di Siena.

Parallelamente Le Dimore del Quartetto organizza annualmente Espresso Masterclass, una full immersion formativa con Maestri di rilievo internazionale ospitata nelle dimore storiche della rete.
In questa prospettiva si inserisce anche MUSA – European Young MUsicians Soft Skills Alliance, progetto europeo dedicato ai giovani quartetti d’archi e orientato allo sviluppo di competenze imprenditoriali e professionali essenziali per la carriera musicale, i cui contenuti formativi sono stati resi disponibili alla rete attraverso un Handbook e Lecture Notes.

Nel loro insieme, queste iniziative testimoniano l’impegno de Le Dimore del Quartetto nel promuovere lo sviluppo professionale degli ensemble attraverso un approccio formativo solido e accessibile.

Dalla selezione nelle società per concerti  e festival internazionali, la nostra rete permette ai musicisti di essere ascoltati in contesti prestigiosi, raggiungendo nuovi pubblici e costruendo una reputazione artistica solida.
Organizziamo e sosteniamo progetti che favoriscono la circuitazione dei musicisti, creando occasioni di ingaggio.

La nostra Direzione Artistica valuta richieste da enti concertistici, istituzioni, fondazioni e festival, selezionando gli ensemble più adatti con un processo sartoriale.

Ciò permette ai musicisti di accedere a opportunità con cachet professionali, inserendosi in programmazioni di alto profilo.

Le residenze artistiche sono il fondamento della nostra economia circolare. Ogni anno, centinaia di musicisti trovano nelle nostre dimore un luogo di concentrazione, studio, ricerca e incontro, immersi in contesti che ispirano e rigenerano il lavoro musicale.
Quando un ensemble ha un impegno lontano da casa (un concorso, una masterclass, un progetto di registrazione o una tournée) può richiedere l’ospitalità gratuita in una dimora della rete per un massimo di una settimana. La richiesta deve arrivare con almeno due mesi di anticipo, così da permettere una selezione accurata del contesto più adatto.
In cambio dell’ospitalità, i musicisti offrono un concerto ai proprietari, che può essere privato oppure aperto alla comunità locale. È un gesto che ricuce rapporti antichi tra dimore storiche e musica, trasformando l’ospitalità in un dialogo culturale.

Per i musicisti, la residenza è un sollievo logistico ed economico, ma anche un’offerta creativa:

  • spazi silenziosi che favoriscono la concentrazione su nuovi repertori,
  • sale storiche che diventano ambienti perfetti per registrare,
  • giardini e paesaggi capaci di ispirare nuove riflessioni e interpretazioni,
  • la possibilità di incontrare compositori, mecenati, appassionati d’arte.

Per i proprietari, l’arrivo dei musicisti è un momento di vita e apertura: la musica riempie le stanze, la dimora diventa un piccolo centro culturale temporaneo, la comunità locale trova nuove occasioni di incontro.
In questa forma di scambio, nessuna delle due parti è “beneficiaria”: entrambe danno e ricevono. I musicisti trovano una casa, le dimore ritrovano una voce.

Owners of historic residences or cultural spaces can expand their opportunities by making their venues available for events organized by companies, private clients, or institutions, finding in our network a partner to develop tailored proposals. Le Dimore del Quartetto can involve residences in designing activities for private clients and, at the same time, be contacted for organizing concerts, musical performances, or team-building activities specifically designed for guests and clients.

Thanks to a decade of experience in cultural programming at regional, national, and European levels, Le Dimore del Quartetto supports residences in developing structured, sustainable projects that are coherent with their identity. Our internationally active network, engaged in coordinating regional and European initiatives, offers dedicated consultancy that accompanies each residence from the conception of an idea to its implementation. Through a structured dialogue, we guide the residence along its path of cultural growth, fostering connections, synergies, and development opportunities.

As an accredited Third Sector organization registered with RUNTS, Le Dimore del Quartetto can also act as an ideal partner for the submission and development of projects within the territory, providing expertise, experience, and a solid organizational framework.

The mission of Le Dimore del Quartetto is based on accessibility to beauty, heritage, and classical music through the development of educational and inclusive projects for communities. Residences that wish to participate can open their spaces to initiatives designed for schools, associations, and local groups, actively contributing to the cultural and social growth of their territory. Hosting these projects strengthens the residence’s role as an open, welcoming, and responsible place, where music becomes a tool for connection, participation, and sharing. Community engagement consolidates the bond with the local area and allows the residence to broaden its impact, transforming it into a space capable of generating educational and social value beyond the artistic experience.

Joining the Le Dimore del Quartetto network means becoming part of an active and collaborative international community, bringing together over three hundred entities dedicated to promoting cultural heritage through music. The network fosters networking opportunities and workshops for owners and managers, encouraging dialogue, experience sharing, and the development of new skills. Through its projects, Le Dimore del Quartetto connects residences with local organizations, other homes that share the same mission, as well as concert institutions, festivals, and local stakeholders. Participation in festivals, cultural events, and showcases helps enhance the visibility of each residence, create new connections, and strengthen its positioning as a culturally significant space. In this way, networking becomes a tangible support for the cultural development of the residence, which does not operate in isolation but within an ecosystem that offers vision, continuity, and new opportunities.

Le Dimore del Quartetto enhances the cultural and territorial identity of historic residences through projects that intertwine music, place, and memory. We tell the stories and make visible to the public the tangible and intangible heritage that defines them—from cultural activities to artisanal, agricultural, and historical knowledge—alongside the experiences and communities that bring them to life. This mission is pursued both through cultural programming and through dedicated communication via the website, newsletters, and social media channels.

Residencies represent one of the most significant opportunities for the members of our network. They consist of short periods, lasting up to six nights, during which the residence hosts an ensemble, providing accommodation and an environment conducive to study. This model naturally suits the unique character of the site, allowing it to be experienced in an active, meaningful, and deeply respectful way: rooms, salons, and dedicated spaces become areas for artistic research and preparation. In return for their hospitality, music is offered as a gesture of gratitude, as the musicians perform a return concert or an open rehearsal, which can be reserved for a small invited audience or open to the public. The performance, always free for attendees, becomes a moment of encounter, sharing, and recognition, capable of enhancing the residence and strengthening its cultural role within the territory.

Through these residencies, the venue becomes part of an international cultural network, activates its spaces, and concretely supports the development of young professional musicians.

I proprietari di dimore storiche o spazi culturali possono ampliare le proprie opportunità mettendo a disposizione i loro spazi per eventi di aziende, privati o istituzioni, trovando nella nostra rete un interlocutore con cui sviluppare proposte su misura. Le Dimore del Quartetto può coinvolgere le dimore nella progettazione di attività dedicate a clienti privati e, allo stesso tempo, essere contattata per l’organizzazione di concerti e interventi musicali o attività di team-building  pensati per ospiti e committenze specifiche.

Grazie a un’esperienza decennale nella progettazione culturale a livello regionale, nazionale ed europeo, Le Dimore del Quartetto affianca le dimore nello sviluppo di progetti strutturati, sostenibili e coerenti con la loro identità. La nostra rete, attiva a livello internazionale e impegnata nel coordinamento di progetti regionali ed europei, offre consulenze dedicate che accompagnano la dimora dalla definizione dell’idea alla sua realizzazione. Attraverso un dialogo strutturato, affianchiamo la dimora nel percorso di crescita culturale, favorendo connessioni, sinergie e opportunità di sviluppo.
In qualità di ente del Terzo Settore accreditato e iscritto al RUNTS, Le Dimore del Quartetto può inoltre assumere il ruolo di partner ideale per la presentazione e lo sviluppo di progetti nel territorio, mettendo a disposizione competenze, esperienza e una solida struttura organizzativa.

La missione de Le Dimore del Quartetto si fonda su l’accessibilità alla bellezza, al patrimonio e alla musica classica, attraverso lo sviluppo di progetti educativi e inclusivi rivolti alle comunità. Le dimore che lo desiderano possono aprire i propri spazi a iniziative pensate per scuole, associazioni e gruppi locali, contribuendo attivamente alla crescita culturale e sociale del territorio. Accogliere questi progetti significa rafforzare il ruolo della dimora come luogo aperto, accogliente e responsabile, in cui la musica diventa strumento di incontro, partecipazione e condivisione. Il coinvolgimento delle comunità consolida il legame con il territorio e permette alla dimora di ampliare il proprio impatto, trasformandosi in uno spazio capace di generare valore educativo e sociale oltre l’esperienza artistica.

Entrare nella rete de Le Dimore del Quartetto significa far parte di un contesto internazionale attivo e collaborativo, che riunisce oltre trecento realtà impegnate nella valorizzazione del patrimonio culturale attraverso la musica. La rete promuove momenti di networking e workshop dedicati ai proprietari e ai gestori, favorendo il confronto, la condivisione di esperienze e lo sviluppo di nuove competenze. Attraverso i suoi progetti, Le Dimore del Quartetto mette in relazione le dimore con realtà del territorio, con altre dimore che condividono la stessa missione e con enti concertistici, festival e stakeholder locali. La partecipazione a rassegne, festival ed eventi culturali contribuisce a rafforzare la visibilità della dimora, a creare nuove connessioni e a consolidarne il posizionamento come spazio culturalmente rilevante. Il networking diventa così un sostegno concreto allo sviluppo culturale della dimora, che non opera in modo isolato ma all’interno di un ecosistema capace di offrire visione, continuità e nuove opportunità.

Le Dimore del Quartetto valorizza l’identità culturale e territoriale delle dimore storiche attraverso progetti che intrecciano musica, territorio e memoria. Raccontiamo e rendiamo visibili al pubblico il patrimonio materiale e immateriale che le caratterizza – dalle attività culturali ai saperi artigianali, agricoli e storici – insieme alle esperienze e alle realtà che le animano. Questa missione si sviluppa sia attraverso la progettazione culturale sia attraverso una comunicazione dedicata, sul sito, le newsletter e i canali social.

Le residenze rappresentano una delle opportunità più significative per le realtà che entrano nella rete. Sono periodi brevi, della durata massima di sei notti, durante le quali la Dimora accoglie un ensemble offrendo ospitalità e un ambiente adatto allo studio. Questa formula dialoga naturalmente con le caratteristiche del luogo, che viene vissuto in modo attivo, qualificato e profondamente rispettoso della sua identità: stanze, saloni e ambienti dedicati diventano spazi di ricerca e preparazione artistica. In cambio dell’ospitalità, i musicisti ringraziano con la musica, regalando un concerto di restituzione, una prova aperta che può essere riservato a un piccolo gruppo di invitati oppure aperto al pubblico. Il concerto, sempre gratuito per chi partecipa, diventa un momento di incontro, condivisione e riconoscimento, capace di valorizzare la Dimora e rafforzarne il ruolo culturale nel territorio.
Attraverso le residenze, la Dimora entra in un circuito culturale internazionale, attiva i propri spazi e sostiene concretamente la crescita di giovani professionisti della musica.