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The Opus 76 Quartet Biography
The Opus 76 Quartet, founded in 2017, is praised for its “old-school European elegance,” “unmistakably traditional sound, expressive clarity and warmth that harkens back to the golden age of quartet playing,” and “interpretive depth reminiscent of the Amadeus Quartet” (Gramophone, The Strad, Bachtrack). Hailed as one of America’s top string quartets, they’ve earned national acclaim through performances at major festivals, broadcasts, and venues—including a 2023 Carnegie Hall debut noted as their leap from “regional excellence to national recognition” (Gramophone). Known for their expressive power and technical brilliance, they’ve collaborated with artists including Karoly Schranz, David Kim, Paul Neubauer, Alexander Markov, Julie Coucheron, Ramona Pansegrau and David Krakauer.
Hailed as “Kansas City’s Gem of a Quartet” by the Kansas City Star, the ensemble consists of prize winning musicians Keith Stanfield, Zsolt Eder, Ashley Stanfield, and Daniel Ketter. They have appeared in a wide variety of venues including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Cincinnati Music Hall, Kaufman Center for the Performing Arts, the Midwest Trust Center and at the OK Mozart Festival, with highly anticipated performances on the horizon at St John's Smith Square and King’s Place in London.
The Opus 76 Quartet's discography is extensive, including complete cycles of Beethoven quartets and recordings of works by Brahms, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Haydn, Bartok and Schubert. Their recording of both Mozart’s "Six Quartets Dedicated to Haydn" and all eighteen Beethoven String Quartets for Kansas Public Radio are particularly noteworthy.
The Opus 76 Quartet has garnered unique acclaim for their dynamic collaborations with ballet companies, notably through their performances of Alexander Ekman's "Cacti." This innovative piece, which melds live music with contemporary dance, has seen the quartet share the stage with dancers, in a captivating interplay between musicians and performers. Their rendition with the Kansas City Ballet was particularly celebrated to great acclaim in Bachtrack and Broadway World, who said: “This was a memorable, relentless performance and easily this reviewer’s favourite performer of the evening.” Similarly, their collaboration with the Oklahoma City Ballet was lauded for creating a "rich, all-encompassing, and simply gorgeous sensory experience" by the Oklahoma City Free Press.
Dedicated to education and community engagement, the quartet's initiative, “Music Making Minds,” provides music education to underserved communities, fostering a love for classical music among young audiences. The Quartet members also serve in various educational capacities, teaching at prestigious institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music, as Artists-in-Residence at The Midwest Trust Center and Educators-in-Residence at the Youth Symphony of Kansas City.
The Opus 76 Quartet embodies artistic excellence and a deep commitment to the future of classical music. Their continued efforts to make classical music accessible and relevant to modern audiences are at the heart of their mission, promising a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of communities throughout the United States and beyond.
This season, the Opus 76 Quartet will continue to captivate audiences both locally and internationally with a diverse array of performances. Highlights include a debut collaboration with the Cincinnati Ballet (April 2025) after return performances with the Kansas City Ballet earlier in the year. They will also return to the Midwest Trust Center Series, featuring a special performance with David Kim, concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra (September 15th, 2024 - May 10th, 2025). Their international engagements include recitals in the UK, featuring the Mendelssohn Octet, Haydn op.76 no.4, Brahms quartet no.1and Beethoven op.132 at St. John’s Smith Square and King’s Place (June 2nd - 10th, 2025). Renowned publications including The Strad, Gramophone, Bachtrack, The Spectator, The K.C. Independent, and K.C. Arts Beat have consistently commended the Opus 76 Quartet for their “emotive precision” and “deeply rooted ‘old school quartet style’.” Critics have noted the ensemble’s “striking blend of technical finesse and heartfelt expression,” emphasizing the quartet’s gift for forging a powerful connection with audiences through performances that are both artistically refined and emotionally resonant.
The Opus 76 Quartet are represented by Tom Gallant of General Arts Touring in the United States. For a detailed schedule of their upcoming performances, visit their official website.
April 2025. Please disregard any previous versions.
