The Winterthurer Streichquartett is made up of the principal players of the Musikkollegium Winterthur and has performed under this name since 1920, though concerts in this formation date back as far as 1873. Today, the quartet consists of Bogdan Božović, Francesco Sica, Jürg Dähler, and, as of February 1, 2025, Flurin Cuonz.
The existence of an in-house quartet within an orchestra is a global rarity and reflects the Musikkollegium Winterthur’s long-standing tradition of chamber music. The quartet gained international recognition in the 1940s with its then-legendary lineup featuring Peter Rybar, Clemens Dahinden, Oskar Kromer, and Antonio Tusa. In later years, the ensemble continued to perform regularly in Switzerland and gave guest concerts throughout Europe and the United States, appearing with soloists such as Pinchas Zukerman, Christian Zacharias, and Emanuel Ax.
Their work is documented on various recordings, including one featuring music by Hermann Goetz and Georg Rauchenecker, two composers closely associated with Winterthur. In more recent times, the Winterthurer Streichquartett has performed at the Stuttgart Music Festival, the Swiss Chamber Concerts in Zurich, and the Schloss Brunegg Festival, sharing the stage with acclaimed artists such as Ian Bostridge, Albrecht Mayer, Barbara Hannigan, Caroline Shaw, and Gabriela Montero.
Their repertoire is impressively broad. Baroque and early Classical works are often performed on the Stainer Quartett, a set of four Baroque instruments crafted by Tyrolean violin maker Jacob Stainer, owned by the Musikkollegium Winterthur. Alongside Classical and Romantic quartet literature, their programs regularly feature works from the 20th and 21st centuries, including commissioned pieces by Swiss composers such as Alfred Felder, Ursina Braun, and Mischa Käser.
