Music Toronto: Leonkoro Quartet

Since its formation in Berlin in 2019, the Leonkoro Quartet has won more awards and been bestowed more honours than any other group of its generation. Bookended by the Schwartz brothers playing first violin and 'cello, the group takes its name from "Leon" and "koro" - the Esperanto words that together form "Lionheart". The name also references the children?s book of the same name by Astrid Lundgren, which features a pair of brothers (not coincidently) who are brave and courageous. In the relatively brief time they have been together, they have emerged as a group not only technically supreme and courageous in their embrace of artistic risk, but also as one particularly attuned to the unique sonority and sound world of each piece they approach. This is music making made on the edge of the seat, vibrant and engaged from beginning to end.