The ensemble Quartetto Classico was founded in 1986 by the alumni of the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. The repertoire amounts to about 60 works of different styles, from baroque works, like the Art of the Fugue by J. S. Bach to modern works, like pieces by Bartok and Part, which are all played from memory. From 2002 to 2005 the ensemble gave concerts of all string quartets of Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart and Bartok under the auspices of the Triton Arts Network and the Dai-ichi-seimei Hall. In 1996 it performed ''Different Trains'' with the composer Steve Reich from New York (under the auspice of of the Mito-Geijutsukan). It was the first joint concert of Japanese musicians with Mr. Reich. In 1999 it collaborated with the Dance company 'nomad's' in Athen (supported by the Japan Foundation). In 2005 it was invited to <'La folle Journee au Japon> at the Tokyo Kokusai Forum, and also it was invited by the Bach-Archiv Leipzig to perform a concert in Germanny. Until now the ensemble was sponsored by the Japan Chamber Music Foundation, the Public Trust Memorial of Luis Graeler Chamber Music Foundation, the Japan Arts Fund, the Kao Foundaton for Arts and Sciences and by the Rohm Music Foundation. In 1997 it was a recipient of the Muramatsu Award and in 2004 it was given the National Arts Festival Grand Prize by the Agency for Cultural Attairs.
Members: First Violin KAWAHARA Chima, Second Violin HANAZAKI Atsumi, Viola MIWA Maki, Violoncello TASAKI Mizahiro.
