The Auryn Quartet was a German string quartet. Founded in 1981, the members were Andreas Arndt (cello), Stewart Eaton (viola), Matthias Lingenfelder (*1959) and Jens Oppermann (*1960), both violin.
An outstanding career spanning three decades has made the Auryn Quartet one of the most sought-after and respected ensembles performing around the globe. The Quartet has not changed its personnel over this long period, and continues with its fresh and pioneering approach to all genres of music.
The Auryn’s main mentors were the Amadeus Quartet, and the Guarneri Quartet with which they studied between 1982 and ’87 in Cologne, Germany, and at the University of Maryland, USA. Claudio Abbado was also an important influence on the Quartet’s musical development, under whose baton they performed as string principles in the European Union Youth Orchestra.
The Quartet won its first prizes at the London International Competition and the ARD Munich competition, both in 1982, only one year after the group’s inception. The ensemble also won the main prize at the European Broadcasting Competition in Bratislava in 1989.
After winning several early awards – including the London International Competition (1982), the ARD International Music Competition (1982), and the main prize at the European Broadcasting Competition in Bratislava (1989) – they had the opportunity to treat the classic repertoire in particular depth thanks to the ongoing interactions between the original personnel.
Their recordings include the complete 68 quartets of Haydn and 15 plus the Grosse Fuge by Beethoven.
The quartet disbanded at the end of the 2020–2021 season.
