From October 11 to October 18, 2026, the celebrated French string‑quartet, Van Kuijk Quartet, embarks on a China tour under the banner “Masterworks” — offering Chinese audiences a rare opportunity to experience some of the greatest masterpieces of the quartet repertoire in the hands of one of today’s most accomplished chamber ensembles (venues to be confirmed).

Founded in 2012 in Paris, the Van Kuijk Quartet quickly announced itself on the international chamber‑music stage. In 2015 they won the prestigious Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition, taking not only First Prize, but also the prizes for Best Beethoven and Best Haydn quartets. That same year they were recognized as BBC New Generation Artists (2015–2017), and in the 2017–2018 season they joined the elite ECHO Rising Stars roster, affording them access to Europe’s top concert venues. 

Since then, Van Kuijk Quartet has become a fixture on the world’s great stages — from London’s Wigmore Hall and Paris’s Théâtre des Champs‑Élysées and Philharmonie, to the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Musikverein in Vienna, Berliner Philharmonie, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Tonhalle Zurich, and many more. Their festival appearances include the BBC Proms, Verbier Festival, Aix‑en‑Provence, Montpellier/Radio France, Stavanger, Trondheim, and others around Europe and beyond.

The Van Kuijk Quartet — comprised of violinists Nicolas van Kuijk and Sylvain Favre‑Bulle, violist Emmanuel François, and cellist Anthony Kondo — is known for a style that blends refined classical sensibility with spirited energy and a willingness to embrace risk. As one critic put it: “Style, energy and a sense of risk… these four young Frenchmen made the music smile.”

Their discography — on the label Alpha Classics — includes celebrated recordings of Mozart string quartets, as well as works by Debussy, Ravel and Schubert, all receiving high critical praise (e.g. CHOC de Classica, Diapason d’Or Découverte). 

For the 2026 China tour under the “Masterworks” theme, audiences can expect a carefully curated programme spanning the most beloved and foundational works of the string‑quartet repertoire — music that showcases the quartet’s exceptional balance, expressive depth, and technical finesse. Whether it is the classical clarity of Mozart and Haydn, the romantic intensity of Schubert or Beethoven, or the nuanced textures of Debussy and Ravel, Van Kuijk Quartet brings to life the rich tradition of European chamber music with freshness, vitality, and deep musical insight.

We invite music lovers in China to mark October 11–18, 2026 on their calendars: this will be a rare chance to hear one of the world’s most distinguished contemporary string quartets perform timeless masterpieces in an immersive concert experience — an ideal blend of tradition, artistry and youthful passion.