Founded in 2002 by violinists Antje Weithaas and Daniel Sepec, violist Tabea Zimmermann, and cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, the Arcanto Quartett was formed after these European musicians had tried performing in various other instrumental combinations. Attracting attention for their first concert in Stuttgart in 2004, the group went on to play major chamber music venues in Bonn, Paris, London, Lisbon, Barcelona, Vienna, and Berlin, as well as appearing at festivals in Edinburgh, Helsinki, and Montreux, and touring Japan and North America. In addition to playing the string quartet repertoire, the Arcanto Quartett has also played quintets with pianist Silke Avenhaus and cellist Olivier Marron.