The collaboration between Quirine and the Italian master pianist Enrico Pace officially began in 2017 with a successful recital in the Small Hall of the Concertgebouw Amsterdam. Since then, they have formed a regular duo, known for their profound and emotional interpretations of the great cello repertoire.
Quirine Viersen, Cello
Quirine Viersen is internationally regarded as one of the most prominent cellists of her generation. With her intense and virtuosic playing, she has earned worldwide acclaim from audiences and critics alike. As the youngest-ever prize winner of the Scheveningen Competition (1989), she built an impressive international career, crowned with prizes at the Rostropovich Competition (1990), the Tchaikovsky Competition (1994), and the Dutch Music Prize (1994).
Her discography includes more than ten albums, among them acclaimed recordings of Bach’s Cello Suites and her recent release (2024) with Thomas Beijer. Following her 2011 recording of Bach’s Cello Suites, The Strad published the following review: “(Her) interpretations are characterized by balance, imagination, and a keen sense of creativity.” A new perspective on life—and consequently on this impressive music—led to a second complete recording, released in late 2018 by the Barca Nova label.
As a passionate chamber musician, she has collaborated extensively with musicians such as Severin von Eckardstein, Isabelle van Keulen, and Alexander Sitkovetski, including on a successful piano quintet tour of major Dutch concert halls. Abroad as well, Quirine regularly performs with musicians such as Adrien la Marca, Veronica Eberle, and Sharon Kam.
Quirine plays a “Joseph Guarnerius Filius Andreae” from 1715, previously played by André Navarra. This instrument was made available to her by the National Musical Instrument Fund on the recommendation of her mentor Heinrich Schiff.
Enrico Pace, Piano
Enrico Pace was born in Rimini, Italy. He studied piano with Franco Scala, both at the Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro, where he graduated in conducting and composition, and at the Accademia Pianistica Incontri col Maestro in Imola.
Winning the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition in Utrecht in 1989 marked the beginning of his international career. He has undertaken numerous international tours and has performed with leading orchestras and at major music venues and festivals in Europe, Asia, and the U.S.
Enrico Pace maintains long-standing collaborations with Leonidas Kavakos, Liza Ferschtman, Sung-Won Yang, and Sharon Kam. With Kavakos, he recorded the complete Beethoven sonatas for piano and violin, as well as Mendelssohn’s piano trios (both for Sony Classical), and an album of virtuoso works for violin and piano (Decca). With cellist Sung-Won Yang, he recorded Beethoven’s complete works for cello and piano, and a CD featuring works by Chopin and Liszt (both for Decca); with Frank Peter Zimmermann, he produced a CD of sonatas by J.S. Bach and Busoni (BIS Records).
Also available is his CD recording of Franz Liszt’s *Années de pèlerinage “Suisse” and “Italie”* (Piano Classics).
