Leonkoro Quartet Interview EN

Leonkoro Quartet

Interview

If you weren't playing in a quartet, you would probably be…

... inside the music business:

Jonathan: Hopefully a member of a great orchestra!
Emiri: I would focus on the solo repertoire and enter competitions.
Mayu: I would probably still be a violinist.
Lukas: I would like to be a rockstar.

... outside the music business:

Jonathan: There is no alternative to music for me.
Emiri: I would be the manager of a toy store!
Mayu: Shortly before studying music, I considered studying linguistics. But in hindsight, it probably wouldn't have been a good fit because I don't have the patience or the brains to sit down and write an essay...
Lukas: I would probably be a long-term student.

What experience or encounter has had a decisive impact on your career and why?

The first major competition we entered together was a very special moment — without having played many concerts beforehand, we were suddenly thrust onto the international stage, which was a valuable learning experience. Another turning point was the start of our collaboration with our agency, Impresariat Simmenauer, which has played a crucial role in helping us expand and maintain our international concert schedule.

In interviews, what would you like to be asked...

Gladly more often: We enjoy talking about the quartet’s daily routine, which—far beyond rehearsals and concerts—requires a great deal of organization and discipline, something we weren’t really aware of before.

Better never: We’ve been asked about the origin of our name so often that we’ve decided to address it in our biography as well. So while every program and every review explains why we’re called Leonkoro, we’re still regularly asked where our name comes from—which is, of course, a fate we’ve chosen for ourselves by picking that name. But we’re always happy to hear from anyone who’s curious!

Do you have any rituals before or after a performance?

Before:

We all have our own little pre-concert rituals—scales, a power nap, some fresh air, meditation… As for shared pre-concert rituals, ours are limited to rehearsing and tuning.

After:

Afterward, things usually go quickly—clean and pack up the instrument, change clothes, and head out. Only Lukas, who always neatly folds his numerous cleaning cloths, has earned a reputation for taking so long to pack that the others have long since returned to the hotel…

Your wish for the next five years?

Good health, memorable concert experiences, and trains and flights that run on time!

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