Photo: Annie Éthier
The Cobalt Quartet distinguishes itself by its eclectic and modern musical approach, exploring with equal enthusiasm early music on period instruments as well as contemporary creations. As committed artists, the members of the quartet are dedicated to making music increasingly accessible to a wide audience, defying stylistic and social barriers.
In Quebec, the Cobalt Quartet has performed at various festivals such as the Festival International de Lanaudière, the Festival International du Domaine Forget and the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, as well as in major venues such as the Palais Montcalm in Quebec City and the Place des Arts in Montreal. The ensemble has collaborated with internationally renowned Quebec artists such as Vincent Lauzer, Élisabeth Pion and Patrick Watson, revisiting their repertoire through arrangements that combine textures and improvisations.
Committed to the dissemination of today’s repertoire, the ensemble honors contemporary music with several collaborations and creations by Quebec composers. The quartet commissioned and premiered Jardins de givre by François-Hugues Leclair at the Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur in April 2022.
The Cobalt Quartet was founded at the University of Montreal in 2017. It was taught by Annick Roussin, Yegor Dyachkov, Laura Andriani and Guillaume Sutre. The ensemble is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, the Conseil des arts de Montréal and the Fondation Père-Lindsay.
The members of the Cobalt Quartet:
Guillaume Villeneuve, violon
Diane Bayard, violon
François Leclerc, violoncelle
Clément Bufferne, alto