Program Information

 

Quatuor Agate performs a program of Schubert, Korngold, and Beethoven. This French quartet has built a strong international reputation through major competition honours, including the Best Contemporary Interpretation Prize at the 2022 Banff International String Quartet Competition, and through appearances at venues such as the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Konzerthaus Berlin, and Wigmore Hall. Named ECHO Rising Stars for 2024/25, Quatuor Agate is also in residence at the Fondation Singer-Polignac in Paris.

Franz Schubert (1797–1828)
String Quartet No. 4 in C major, D. 46

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897–1957)
String Quartet No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 26

Intermission

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132
I. Assai sostenuto – Allegro
II. Allegro ma non tanto
III. Molto adagio – Andante
IV. Alla marcia, assai vivace
V. Allegro appassionato

Artist Biographies

 

Adrien Jurkovic, violin

Adrien Jurkovic is a French violinist and a founding member of Quatuor Agate. As part of the quartet, he has performed internationally at major venues and festivals, with the ensemble recognized through honours including the Best Contemporary Interpretation Prize at the 2022 Banff International String Quartet Competition and 2024/25 ECHO Rising Stars recognition.

 

Juliette Beauchamp, violin

French-Polish violinist Juliette Beauchamp joined Quatuor Agate in 2026, succeeding founding violinist Thomas Descamps. Born in Lyon in 1998, she studied at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin with Stephan Picard and has appeared as a chamber musician at festivals including Krzyżowa Music Festival, Grachtenfestival Amsterdam, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Heidelberger Frühling, and Gotland Chamber Music Festival. She is also active as a baroque violinist and is a founding member of the duo and collective Morskie Oko.

 

Raphaël Pagnon, viola

Raphaël Pagnon is a French violist and founding member of Quatuor Agate. With the quartet, he has helped build an international profile through major competition recognition, European concert appearances, and performances at venues including the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Wigmore Hall, and Konzerthaus Dortmund.

 

Simon Iachemet, cello

Simon Iachemet is a French cellist and founding member of Quatuor Agate. His work with the quartet includes international touring, major festival appearances, and the ensemble’s 2024 debut album of Brahms string quartets on the Appassionato label.

 

About Quatuor Agate

Formed in 2016, the Quatuor Agate derives its name from one of the most beautiful chamber music pieces, Johannes Brahms’s Second Sextet, dedicated to his second love, Agathe von Siebold. Seven years later, this fascination with Brahms materialized with the release of their debut album in early 2024, featuring the complete String Quartets released on the Appassionato label.

Distinguished in various international competitions and festivals for several years (including the Best Contemporary Interpretation Prize at the 2022 Banff International String Quartet Competition, Audience Prize at the Steels-Wilsing Competition 2020, and in the Verbier Festival 2019), the Quatuor Agate achieved a significant milestone in 2021 when they were a winner in the auditions of the prestigious Young Classical Artists Trust in London. In 2023 the Quatuor Agate were honoured to be named as ECHO Rising Stars 2024/25, performing at the majority of Europe’s major concert halls including the Philharmonie de Paris, the Barbican, Kölner Philharmonie and the Konzerthaus Dortmund.

Recent highlights have included performances at renowned venues such as the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Prinzregententheater in Munich, Konzerthaus Berlin, TauberPhilharmonie in Weikersheim, Brucknerhaus Linz, as well as participating in festivals like Verbier Festival, Heidelberger Frühling, Festival de Salon- de-Provence, Festival de Radio France, Britten-Pears Arts in Aldeburgh, Mecklenburg- Vorpommern Festival and Lammermuir Festival in Scotland, among others. Further afield they had their debut tour of Colombia in early 2024, made their debut at Leif Ove Andsnes’ Rosendal Chamber Music Festival in Norway, and returned to the Wigmore Hall in London.

The start of the 2025/26 season sees the quartet embark on a tour of the US and Canada, playing in Oregon, New York and Virginia before rounding it off at the Canadian Opera in Toronto.

In Europe they return to the Philharmonie de Paris and Wigmore Hall. Looking further ahead, they will tour Mexico in March 2026 and take up residencies in Weikersheim in Germany and at UKARIA in Australia with soprano Siobhan Stagg. In addition to their recording of the complete Brahms’ quartets, other releases include a recording with Frank Braley and Gabriel Le Magadure featuring Concert de Chausson for Appassionato, and an album with American tenor Eric Ferring in Chicago for the Delos label. The group is passionate about bringing chamber music to diverse audiences, and just a few weeks after the quartet’s inception, they embarked on their first venture – the creation of the CorsiClassic festival, an annual event in Ajaccio, Corsica.

Currently, the Quartet is a Resident of the Conservatoire Rachmaninoff in Paris, and Associate Artist at the La Brèche Festival. The Agates receivd support from ProQuartet the Günther Caspar-Stiftung, the Fondation Singer-Polignac and the Fondation Banque Populaire.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How will I receive my tickets?
Electronic tickets are emailed immediately after purchase to the email address used at checkout. Please keep your tickets handy on your smart phone or bring a printed copy with you to the concert so we can scan them at the door. If you do not receive your tickets, please check your spam or junk folder, as ticket emails are sometimes blocked or filtered by email providers. You may also wish to search your inbox for “Cecilia Concerts” or your order confirmation. If you still cannot find your tickets, please contact the Cecilia Concerts office before the concert and we’ll be happy to help. Rest assured, if you purchased tickets, your name will also be on our guest list at the door.

What time should I arrive?
Doors open at 7:00pm, and the concert begins at 7:30pm. We recommend arriving a little early so you have time to have your ticket scanned, find a seat, and get settled before the performance begins.

Can I arrive late?
Latecomers will be seated at an appropriate break in the performance, when possible. To avoid disruption to the artists and audience, we recommend arriving before the concert begins.

How long is the concert?
The approximate running time is 1 hour and 55 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission.

What is the seating like?
Tickets are general admission. The Stage at St. Andrew’s has unassigned seating, with chairs on the main floor and pews in the balcony. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bravo Premium subscription holders have reserved access to seating within the first five rows. Please note that the balcony is accessible by stairs only. Wheelchair-accessible seating and companion seating are available on the main floor. If you have an accessibility-related seating need, please let us know when you arrive.

Are children welcome?
Yes, children are always welcome. Please keep in mind that this is a full-length concert in a traditional concert setting. Families may wish to choose seats close to a door in case a quick exit is needed during the performance.

What should I know about concert etiquette?
If you are new to classical concerts, you are very welcome. We simply ask that audience members help create a quiet and respectful environment for the artists and those around them. Please silence your phone before the concert begins, avoid talking during the performance, and wait for pauses between pieces to move around when possible.

When should I clap?
It is always fine to clap when a full piece has ended. Some longer works have several movements, with short pauses in between, and audiences usually wait until the entire work is finished before applauding. If you are unsure, it is perfectly okay to wait and follow the rest of the audience.

Can I use my phone during the concert?
Please silence your phone before the concert begins. We ask that phones and bright screens not be used during the performance, as they can be distracting to artists and audience members.

Can I take photos or videos?
Photos are welcome before or after the concert. Unless otherwise announced, photography, audio recording, and video recording are not permitted during the performance.

What accessibility features are available?
The Stage at St. Andrews is wheelchair accessible and includes accessible washrooms with ramp access. Companion seating is available if required. If you have a specific accessibility question before attending, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

Is the venue scent-sensitive?
To help make the concert comfortable for everyone, we ask guests to avoid wearing strong scents or fragrances.

Is there parking or public transit nearby?
The Stage at St. Andrews is located on the corner of Robie Street and Coburg Road. There is no parkade at the venue, but street parking is available in the surrounding area. The venue is also located near major South End Halifax Transit routes.

What happens if there is a storm?
If a storm may affect a performance, ticket holders are encouraged to call the Cecilia Concerts office at 902-423-0143 for a recorded concert update. Updates will also be posted on the Cecilia Concerts website and social media channels.

What happens if a concert is changed, postponed, or cancelled?
Concert schedule changes are very rare, but storms or other unexpected circumstances may occasionally require us to make adjustments. If a concert is changed, postponed, or cancelled, ticket holders will be contacted as soon as possible with available options. Depending on the circumstances, you may choose to attend the rescheduled concert, receive a credit toward a future Cecilia Concerts performance, request a refund, or convert the value of your ticket into a charitable donation tax receipt.