Founded in 1996, the cQ was trained by the Carmina and Alban Berg Quartet and Walter Levin. It played more than 1800 concerts since then. It greatly benefited from performing with musicians like Martha Argerich, Clemens Hagen, Sol Gabetta, Emma Kirkby, Maurice Steger, Khatia Buniatishvili, Gautier Capuçon, Fazil Say and more. Since 2008, intensive work on period instruments by Jacobus Stainer and research on music of the 18th century culminated in the CDs „Birth of the String Quartet“ I & II, which received highest critical acclaim. Along with „Genesis“ - 7 quartets by Franz X. Richter from 1757“, they won the ECHO KLASSIK award in 2010 & 2015, the DIAPASON DÉCOUVERTE & D‘OR. The cQ was also nominated three times for the ICMA-Award, the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis and the GRAMMY. Another CD with clarinet-player Sebastian Manz recieved another ECHO and the Dt. Schallplattenpreis 2017. In many parts of the world, the cQ has captivated its audiences with inspired and precise musicianship. The four musicians see the string quartet as one of the most versatile genres in music, equally successful in its journeys from the 17th century to Tango Nuevo, Jazz and the newest works. Concept oriented programming is equally important to the quartet’s vision – which it promulgates at own festivals and concert series. Projects for young people, as well as moderated concerts are features of the quartet’s mission, which is to create a lively dialogue between tradition and innovation.