O U R H I S T O R Y
The Protean Quartet was born in 2018 in Basel. It takes its name from “Proteus”, the Greek deity of the sea, which in turn is the etymological origin of the noun “proteo” and “protean” as the inherent quality of something that frequently changes form, affect or opinion. Thus, the “Protean Quartet” identifies itselfs with a critical spirit in permanent revisión and dialoge with the music and among its members, searching for new ideas and creative impulses.
Moved by the curiosity and passion for the “Historically Informed Performance”, the ensemble is mainly focused on the rediscovery of the stylistic, rhetorical and technical aspect of the musical language from the Baroque to Classical and Romantic periods.
Recently, the ensemble has been awarded First Prize at York International Early Music Competition 2022 (UK) as well as First Prize at the Biagio-Marini International Competition 2020 (GE). Since its formation, it has performed in important festivals including the Oude Muziek Festival in Utrecht (NL), FIAS in Madrid (SP) and Festival de Saintes (FR).
Apart from their dedication to the quartet, their members play regularly with some of the most important groups of the baroque scene such as Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Lautten Compagney and Gli Incogniti among others. In January 2023 they will reléase their Debut CD with the spanish label “Eudora Records”.
2020 - 1st Grand Prize
Biagio-Marini International Competition
2022
Jurg-Müller Stiftung ST/ART Programm
2022 - 1st Prize
York Early Music International Competition
Mario Guada
"The exceptional quartet, one of the few Spanish quartets specialised in the historicist interpretation of the genre, offered an overwhelming programme in which they demonstrated both their individual quality and the brilliant synergies that are created when they come together on stage, giving the best concert in this edition of FIAS 2022."
Edi Kotler completed his training at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" Berlin and Hochschule für Musik in Dresden .He has won several individual and chamber music prizes, including first prizes at the Tel-Aviv University Competition, Audience award at ‘‘Aviv Competition”, the second prize at the “Berliner Bach Wettbewerb'' for early music with his group "Himmelhofkapelle". Edi works regularly with the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, with conductors such as René Jacobs, Bernhard Fork and Georg Kallweit and performing regulaty at Chamber music and early music Festivals around Europe.
Ricardo completed his Bachelor studies in Barcelona with Ashan Pillai and Jonathan Brown. In 2015 he moved to Basel, where he completed his master's studies with Silvia Simionescu. There he had his first contact with early music, studying postgraduate studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis with Amandine Beyer. He collaborates with groups such as "Gli Incogniti", "Infermi D'Amore", "Abchordis Ensemble" or
"I Gemelli".
Javier studied in Berlin and Basel, at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler", the Universität der Künste
and the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. He is a member of several ensembles, such as the Geneva Camerata, Lautten Compagney and guest player at Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin. He has received several grants from various ensembles and institutions, such as the "Giorgio Cini" Foundation in Venice, the "Gli Incogniti" group and the "Balthazar Neumann" ensemble. In the last edition of the "Bach- Wettbewerbs" he won the
second prize with his group "Himmelhofkapelle".
Clara completed her cello studies in Zaragoza and Zurich with Ángel Luis
Quintana, Roel Dieltiens and Thomas Demenga. She completed her master's degree in early music with Christophe Coin at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.
She is a member of the "Duo Seneca", the "Trio Costa Rica" and the Geneva Camerata. Clara plays on two wonderful instruments: a French cello 1820 by Mirecourt and a classical cello, a copy of an Amati- Ruggeri 2018 built by Damien Gest.