Doric String Quartet
Doric String Quartet
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“luminous beauty of sound…”
BIOGRAPHY
Ying Xue, violin
Maia Cabeza, violin
Emma Wernig, viola
John Myerscough, cello
The Doric String Quartet brings elegance and intimacy both to the Classical canon and new music, with the depth and integrity of their interpretations winning them fans across the world. Having performed complete cycles of Haydn, Mendelssohn and Bartók at the most prominent European venues, including Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Vienna Konzerthaus and Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, the players have turned their attention to Beethoven and Britten. The first instalment of their Beethoven cycle was released in 2023, and was praised by The Times as ‘a joy’. The series culminates in 2026–27, in time for the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death.
Their intellectual rigor has led them to use specially made original-style bows for performing Classical repertoire from Haydn to Mendelssohn. While they are known for their refined performances of this repertoire, they are also committed to new music, performing works by composers such as Brett Dean, Thomas Adès, Héloïse Werner, Eleanor Alberga and Andrea Tarrodi. Their curiosity and flexibility are represented by a discography of more than 20 recordings for Chandos, with whom they have recorded exclusively since 2010, ranging from Purcell to John Adams.
The quartet regularly tours Australia, Japan and the US, where its latest appearance culminated in a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall in spring 2025. In the 2025–26 season, the players return to Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and Wigmore Hall, make their debut at Shanghai Symphony Hall and present the complete Britten cycle at De Bijloke in Ghent, commemorating 50th years since the composer’s death.
The quartet often performs repertoire for string quartet and orchestra. This includes Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro and John Adams’ Absolute Jest, which has become a firm part of its repertoire since it gave the Austrian premiere at Vienna Konzerthaus with Vienna Symphony Orchestra and John Adams. In the recent years, it also gave the Dutch premiere of the piece with Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and performed it with BBC Scottish Symphony and BBC Symphony Orchestras. Its recording with Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Peter Oundjian, released on Chandos, was named BBC Music Magazine’s Recording of the Month for its ‘sumptuous sweetness and laser-like clarity’
Having themselves benefitted from coaching by groups such as the Hagen, Alban Berg, Artemis and LaSalle quartets, the group is dedicated to supporting young musicians and has been Teaching Quartet in Association at the Royal Academy of Music since 2015. Maia Cabeza plays a 1754 Michele Deconet violin, Ying Xue a 1754 Giovanni Gabrielli violin, Emma Wernig a viola made by Jason Viseltear in 2019, and John Myerscough a 1587 Brothers Amati cello.
Recordings
The quartet has recorded exclusively for Chandos since 2010, with releases including Korngold’s music, Haydn Quartets opp.20, 33, 64 and 76, Walton, Britten and Mozart. In 2019 the players recorded the complete Britten quartets at Snape Maltings Concert Hall and in 2023 released the first album of their Beethoven cycle, including op.18 no.1, op.59 no.1, op.95 and op.127. Their Beethoven cycle culminates in 2026–27 for the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death.
Festivals
Recent visits include Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Grafenegg, West Cork, Aldeburgh, Edinburgh, Thaxted and Tivoli Festivals.
Collaborations
Regular collaborations include Jonathan Biss, Benjamin Grosvenor, Anna Prohaska, Marmen Quartet and Quiroga Quartet.
2025/2026
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