Carduelis Quartet

The Carduelis Quartet was founded in 2020 by four students of different nationalities (Belgium, the Netherlands, and France) at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. From the outset, the group established a recognizable, unique sound characterized by an unusual blend of two string instruments, a woodwind instrument (clarinet), and piano. They thus advocate for a repertoire for four, revolving around Messiaen's 'Quatuor pour la fin du Temps' (Quartet for the End of Time), but the ensemble also engages with other forms such as trios and duos. The Carduelis Quartet had the opportunity to be coached and advised by Benjamin and Thomas Dieltjens of Het Collectief, Inge Spinette, Jan Michiels... and recorded Messiaen's Quartet in December 2022 at the Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels.

Carduelis is the Latin name for the European goldfinch: a musical bird whose song was often used in the works of Messiaen.