The Philharmonic String Quartet represents chamber musical excellence of the Berlin Philharmonic: cosmopolitan, versatile and artistically passionate.
Out of a desire to make music together with enthusiasm, the Philharmonic String Quartet was founded in 2018, and features three members of the Berlin Philharmonic – Dorian Xhoxhi (violin), Helena Berg (violin) and Naoko Shimizu (viola) — and the esteemed soloist Christoph Heesch (cello). The balance between powerful freshness and rich, philharmonic sound particularly distinguishes this ensemble.
“The Philharmonic String Quartet captivates the audience from the first note.” (Rondo Magazine 5/14/2022)
The musicians are aware that they are following in great footsteps: with the Philharmonic String Quartet they are continuing the venerable tradition of the Berlin Philharmonic’s ensembles of making chamber music at the highest level. All four musicians have won various top-class competitions and have vast experience in various chamber music formations.
The Philharmonic String Quartet offers them the opportunity to create their own musical expression. They feel less committed to a certain style than to their virtuosity, and they follow the motto of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: “…because we love to talk to all kinds of masters – with the old and modern.”
Sept. 16, 2026 - 7:30pm
(doors open 6:45pm)
Philharmonic
String Quartet
Dorian Xhoxhi (violin), Helena Berg (violin), Takehiro Konoe (viola), Christoph Heesch (cello)
program:
Franz Schubert: Quartet movement C minor, D703
As regrettable as it is that Schubert abandoned this brilliantly begun quartet after the first movement, it has consequently become a popular opening piece for many quartet concerts.
Johannes Brahms: String quartet C minor op.51.1
Johannes Brahms worked on his first string quartet for years—out of respect for Beethoven’s overwhelming legacy, he discarded numerous drafts before publishing the final version in 1873. The Quartet in C minor combines passionate drama with masterful form: restless, powerful outer movements frame an intimate romance and a contemplative intermezzo. With its dense motivic interweaving and emotional depth, it ranks among the most significant chamber music works of the Romantic period.
Ludwig van Beethoven: String quartet F major op. 59.1
With the three “Rasumovsky Quartets,” Beethoven broke new ground in chamber music. The String Quartet in F major, Op. 59 No. 1, impresses with its symphonic scope, bold musical ideas, and enormous expressive range. A sweeping first Allegro is followed by a heartfelt slow movement, a powerful Scherzo, and a radiant finale. The work marks a decisive step toward Beethoven’s middle creative period and is considered a milestone in quartet literature.