The quartet is performing for the IUC in Rome before embarking on more international engagements, followed by its debut in Japan next year and a busy programme in Milan where it is performing the complete Beethoven quartets (17 in all) to mark the 150th anniversary of the prestigious Società del Quartetto.

The energetic Cremona four – Cristiano Gualco and Paolo Andreoli violins, Simona Gramaglia viola and Giovanni Scaglione cello – are also famous for their ability to combine tradition with innovation, for their master classes, their encouragement of young musicians and their promotion of Cremona’s string instrument makers.