Chaos String Quartet

 “Beauty of tone, vitality and textural clarity” - The Strad
“Stunningly accurate playing… an impressive debut” - BBC Music Magazine

Founded in Vienna in 2019 on the principles of “chaos” within art, science, and philosophy, the Chaos String Quartet has quickly made its mark on the international music stage. Much like the butterfly effect in physics, where small changes can lead to significant outcomes, the quartet’s performances showcase the profound impact of each musician’s contribution.

The ensemble was selected as BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists for 2023-2025, which has led them to frequently record for BBC Radio 3 and perform at some of the UK’s most renowned festivals and concert halls, including the Wigmore Hall.

They have received multiple awards at prestigious competitions, such as the ARD Competition in Munich, the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition, the String Quartet Competition in Bad Tölz, the Joseph Haydn Chamber Music Competition in Vienna, the Bartók World Competition in Budapest and the Rimbotti Competition in Italy.

Their debut CD, featuring works by Haydn, Hensel, and Ligeti (Solo Musica München, 2024), has garnered widespread critical acclaim from outlets such as BBC Music Magazine, RITMO, and Le Monde, and has been nominated for the ‘Prize of the German Record Critiques.’

Contemporary music holds a special place in the Chaos String Quartet’s repertoire. Several composers, including Diego Conti and Alessio Elia, have dedicated their works to them. In March 2025, they will premiere a new work by Errollyn Wallen, co-commissioned by the BBC and the Henry Barber Trust.

In addition to their classical and contemporary performances, the quartet enjoys developing interdisciplinary projects and new concert formats. For instance, they have collaborated with composer Samu Gryllus to create improvisational transitions for several concert programs.

After completing the ECMAster program under the mentorship of Prof. Johannes Meissl (Artis Quartet) in Vienna, the ensemble continued their postgraduate studies at the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole under the guidance of the Cuarteto Casals. They have also gained valuable insights from artists such as Eberhard Feltz, András Keller, Oliver Wille, Steven Isserlis, and Helmut Lachenmann.

Known for their powerful stage presence, thoughtful musical exploration, and original programming, the quartet is frequently invited to prestigious festivals, including the Davos Festival, Ravenna Festival, Lofoten International Chamber Music Festival, Lockenhaus Festival, Wien Modern, Mozartfest Würzburg, Heidelberg Streichquartettfest, and the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival.

Highlights of the 2025/26 season include debuts at the Konzerthaus Berlin and the String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam as well a concert and recording with the BBC Symphony orchestra.

Susanne Schäffer plays a violin by Carlo Giuseppe Testore (c. 1711) on loan from the MERITO String Instruments Trust and Bas Jongen plays a cello by Hendrick Jacobs (Amsterdam, 1696), a kind loan by the Dutch Musical Instruments Foundation (NMF).