Polish Cello Quartet

The Polish Cello Quartet (PCQ) was founded in 2011 on the initiative of Tomasz Daroch, Wojciech Fudala, Krzysztof Karpeta and Adam Krzeszowiec – four acclaimed Polish cellists. The artists decided to establish this unique chamber ensemble in order to present the original sound of the cello quartet to a wider audience. Since 2014, they have been a resident ensemble of the National Forum of Music in Wrocław, Poland. Their latest achievements include the recording of the album Polish Cello Quartet – Chopin Project.

Chopin Project is an innovative programme featuring transcriptions of Frederic Chopin’s works created by Sabina Meck, Piotr Moss and Leszek Kołodziejski. The untypical line-up, consisting of four cellos, emphasizes the important role of this instrument in the Chopin’s oeuvre. The arrangements not only offer a new sound, but also pay homage to Chopin’s fascination with the cello and allow him to reach a wider audience.

PCQ’s repertoire includes mainly works originally composed for cello quartet. It is constantly expanded to include contemporary pieces by Polish and international composers, including Artur Zagajewski, Piotr Moss, and Annelies Van Parys. Most of the new works have been presented on Polish stages for the first time. In 2017, the ensemble’s debut album entitled Discoveries was released. In 2018, at the invitation of the Silesian String Quartet and the CHANDOS label, PCQ recorded Grażyna Bacewicz’s Cello Quartet, and the album with this recording received the Fryderyk 2019 award in the Most Outstanding Recording of Polish Music category.

The quartet is one of the most dynamic Polish chamber ensembles, regularly performing in Poland, Europe and around the world during the most important music festivals (including Cello Biënnale Amsterdam, Festival Internacional Cervantino in Mexico, Eckelshausener Musiktage).