Melos Quartet

The Melos Quartet, based in Stuttgart was one of the renowned string quartet ensembles in the world. It was founded in 1965 by Wilhelm Melcher, Gerhard Voss, Hermann Voss and Peter Buck, who worked as concertmaster and section leader of the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn and Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra.

Just one year later the quartet won first international prices, which many others followed. 1967 gave members in their orchestral excerpts in order to devote himself entirely to quartet playing.

Gerhard Voss left the quartet in 1993 after disagreements with the other members; he was replaced by Ida Bieler. For 2005, " Les Adieux " farewell tour was planned, but did not come into existence due to the death of Wilhelm Melcher.

The name " Melos " is, apart from the musical meaning ( vocal line ), a contraction of the member's name Melcher and Voss; Peter Buck lived in the melon road.

The founding members were from 1975 lecturer for string quartet, from 1980 professor at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Stuttgart. Among the chamber music partners of the Melos Quartet were among others Arthur Rubinstein, Mstislav Rostropovich and the baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.