Taneyev Quartet

The Taneyev Quartet is an academic string quartet created in Leningrad in 1946 by violinist Vladimir Ovcharek, then a second-year student at the Leningrad Conservatory (now St. Petersburg Conservatory).
Timeline of names:
1946 - 1951: The Quartet of the Leningrad Conservatory (Квартет Ленинградской консерватории)
1951 - 1963: The Leningrad Philharmonic Quartet (Квартет Ленинградской Государственной Филармонии)
1963 - current: The Taneyev Quartet (Квартет имени Танеева)

At first, the ensemble was called the Quartet of the Leningrad Conservatory, later from 1951 the Quartet of the Leningrad Philharmonic. In 1963 the quartet was named after Sergey Ivanovich Taneyev.
In the original composition of the quartet, together with Vladimir Ovcharek, Grigori Lutzki (second violin), Wissarion Solowjow = Виссарион Соловьев (viola) and Vladimir Poznakhirko (cello) played, who was soon replaced by Beniamin Morozov = Бениамин Морозов. Since 1967, in connection with the transition of Бениамин Морозов to Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra (ЗКР АСО), Josif Lewinson began to perform the cello part. In the mid-1980s, Grigori Lutzki and Wissarion Solowjow were replaced by violinist Alexander Stang = Александр Станг and violist Vladimir Stopichev = Владимир Стопичев.
The team performed with the greatest musicians such as David Oistrach, Eliso Virsaladze, Mstislav Rostropovich and others.
The Taneyev Quartet traditionally paid special attention to the performance of Russian and Soviet music. The basis of his repertoire was the works of Taneyev himself, Nikolai Myaskovsky, Dmitri Shostakovich, Nicolas Slonimsky, Boris Tishchenko, Vladislav Agafonnikov; The fifteenth quartet of Shostakovich was first performed by the Taneyevites. The Taneyev Quartet played more than 6,000 concerts, recorded more than 150 quartets and other chamber compositions on radio and gramophone records (Мелодия firm).
Violinist Vladimir Ovcharek who initiated the creation of the quartet and led it for 60 years, passed away in 2007. After that, the quartet members Владимир Стопичев and Josif Lewinson performed for several years with young musicians, laureates of international competitions, violinists Ilya Kozlov, a student of Vladimir Ovcharek, and Dmitry Koryavko, a student of Josif Lewinson in the quartet class.
In 2017, at the initiative of the oldest musician of the quartet, cellist Josif Lewinson, the quartet was completely renewed. Violinists Ilya Kozlov and Dmitry Koryavko were joined by laureates of international competitions violist Denis Gonchar, a student of Владимир Стопичев, and cellist Dmitry Khrychev = Дмитрий Хрычев. Subsequently, the place of the cellist of the quartet was taken by Dmitry Eremin, widely known to the public both in Russia and abroad. All current members of the quartet are artists of the Honored Collective of Russia Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra.
2019 has become a new milestone in the history of the legendary team. The quartet resumed its active concert activity in Russia and abroad, takes part in prestigious music festivals, including the Yuri Bashmet Festival, the Taneevsky Festival. Collaborates with well-known musicians, performs both well-known classical works and modern music. The group's repertoire is designed for a very different and demanding audience.