Melding the delicacy of Eastern music with the power of Western repertoire, the quartet has a wide repertoire ranging from traditional Chinese folk music to the most challenging classical works. It regularly tours the music capitals of North and South America, Asia, and Europe.

For the Shanghai concert, they will also play Beethoven's "String Quartet No. 6" and Brahms' "Piano Quintet in F Minor" in cooperation with American pianist Robert McDonald, a professor from the Julliard School in New York.

Last summer the quartet cooperated with pianist/professor Gary Graffman from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia on Korngold's "Suite for Two Violins, Cello and Piano (left hand)."

The quartet has also appeared frequently at New York's Carnegie Hall, and they have appeared in London, Vienna, Prague and Sydney Opera House.

"We really believe the greatest kind of music making happens when the performers are putting great composer's intention and music itself before their own," says violinist Jiang. "That is not to say it might lack personal involvement or individuality; on the contrary, because the performers become the true interpreters and recreate great music's original spiritual dimension, the printed music finally comes back alive and sounds absolutely convincing. That is what Shanghai Quartet constantly tries to achieve."

The quartet's discography includes 24 recordings. Current recording projects include the complete Beethoven string quartets (Camerata), which are scheduled for completion in 2009.

"Beethoven's 17 string quartets are the crown of chamber music. The quartet performed them all in 2003 to celebrate their 20 years' anniversary," says critic Li. "Their playing is very harmonious, especially the playing of violinist Li Weigang, who has a noble but warm timbre. No wonder the 'Strad' magazine called the quartet 'an Oriental Dvorak'."

He referred to the Czeck composer who often incorporated folk music in his innovative compositions.

Oriental Dvorak
Date: June 10, 7:30pm
Venue: Shanghai Concert Hall, 523 Yan'an Donglu
Tickets: 100-480 yuan
Tel: 962-288