The Taneyev Quartet is an academic string quartet created in Leningrad in 1946 by violinist Vladimir Ovcharek , then a second-year student at the Leningrad Conservatory . At first, the ensemble was called the Quartet of the Leningrad Conservatory , later - the Quartet of the Leningrad Philharmonic . In 1963, the quartet received the name of Sergey Taneyev .
In the initial composition of the quartet, together with V. Yu. Ovcharek played Grigory Lutsky (second violin), Vissarion Soloviev ( viola ) and Vladimir Poznakhirko ( cello ), who was soon replaced by Beniamin Morozov . Since 1967 , in connection with the transfer of B.F. Morozov to the ZKR , Joseph Levinzon began to play the cello part. In the mid-1980s, Grigory Lutsky and Vissarion Solovyov were replaced by violinist Alexander Stang and viola player Vladimir Stopichev.
Since 1948, the wife of Beniamin Morozov, pianist Tamara Fidler, became the permanent partner of the Quartet. Participants of the Taneyev Quartet also collaborated with other guest musicians, performing ensembles for various compositions.
The Taneyev Quartet has traditionally paid special attention to the performance of Russian and Soviet music. The basis of his repertoire was composed by the works of Taneyev, Myaskovsky , Shostakovich , Slonimsky , Tishchenko , Agafonnikov ; Shostakovich’s fifteenth quartet was first performed by the Taneyevs. The Taneyev Quartet played more than 6,000 concerts, recorded over 150 quartets and other chamber compositions on the radio and gramophone records ( Melody firm).
Violinist Vladimir Ovcharek, who initiated the creation of the quartet and led it for 60 years, passed away in 2007. After that, the participants of the quartet Vladimir Stopichev and Joseph Levinson performed with young musicians, laureates of international competitions, violinists Ilya Kozlov - a student of Vladimir Ovcharek and Dmitry Koryavko - a student of Joseph Levinzon in the quartet class for several years.
In 2017, on the initiative of the quartet's oldest musician, cellist Joseph Levinson, the composition of the quartet was completely updated. Violinists Ilya Kozlov and Dmitry Koryavko were joined by laureates of international competitions altist Denis Gonchar, a student of Vladimir Stopichev and cellist Dmitry Hrychev, also a student of the quartet class of Joseph Levinzon. All current members of the quartet are artists of the Honored Collective of Russia of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Academic Symphony Orchestra.
2019 was the year of the legendary collective's new important milestone. The quartet resumed its active concert activity in Russia and abroad.