Down the Rabbit Hole with Dvorák: Desguin Quartet Redefines the String Quartet Experience with Merita

Stories | June 26, 2025

In a time when classical music acutely needs fresh life and vibrancy across borders, the Merita Project is a dynamic initiative that unites musicians, mentors, historic houses, and concert organizers across Europe. Among its vibrant participants is the Desguin Quartet – a group of four passionate Belgian musicians redefining what it means to be a string quartet in the 21st century.

Source: Desguin Kwartet

Born from the Conservatory

The Desguin Quartet, made up of Rhea Van Hellemont (viola), Ludovic Bataillie (violin), Wolfram Van Mechelen (violin), and Pieter-Jan De Smet (cello), share a close relationship developed while they studied at the Antwerp Conservatory. Their ensemble’s name pays homage to their beginnings on Desguinlei, the street where their musical journey began.

From the start, the quartet had an interdisciplinary approach to performance. Whether collaborating with jazz performers, actors, or even puppet theatre artists, their aim has been to produce events that redefine musical boundaries. “We love to get inspired by other artists who are not musicians,” they explain – an ethos that lies perfectly within Merita’s own spirit of cross-pollination.

A Castle in Hungary and a Creative Explosion

Their newest production, “Dvořák Down the Rabbit Hole,” was born in a fairytale-like setting: a historic Hungarian castle that hosted the group’s Merita residency. Isolated from daily distractions, they began crafting a unique performance based on Dvořák’s American Quartet. First working on the musical structure, they then collaborated with Jovan, a theater coach who assisted them in infusing their creation with a new level of depth – movement, storytelling, and imagery.

What started as a typical chamber music rehearsal quickly became an immersive artwork experience. “At first we dreamed big – video art, AI, multimedia, but then we returned to our roots: making music, improvising, creating,” says the ensemble.

An Experience, Not Simply a Concert

The result is far from a standard recital. Each movement of Dvořák’s quartet is a new world, leading the audience on surprising soundscapes and theatrical turns. The first movement unites the quartet with Dvořák’s New World Symphony fragments, giving us a high-brain opening. The second transports us to deep, reflective space played entirely in the dark. The third delves into Danish folk, offering a green forest filled with birdsong and nature’s energy. The fourth bursts into a joyous fiesta, merging jazz, Florence Price, Django Reinhardt, and even Bach chorales culminating in unpremeditated singing by the quartet.

“It’s about fun, creativity, and the joy of being surprised,” they say. “You don’t really know what’s going to happen—and neither does the audience.”

Merita as Catalyst and Connector

For the Desguin Quartet, Merita is more than a residency – it’s a paradigm shift. It opened them up to new collaborations, allowed them to experiment with new and innovative performance practices, and exposed them to professionals across other art forms. “It really matches our energy,” they affirm.

Despite technical challenges – such as having a lighting technician available only on the last day – the crew welcomed spontaneity. “Maybe that will actually inspire us more,” they reflect with optimism.

A New Chapter for String Quartets in Europe

As the Desguin Quartet grows, they remain exceedingly grateful to Merita. “They are the glue connecting all string quartets in Europe,” they note, recognizing the project’s impact in building an international community of adventurous, creative musicians.

It’s only the beginning. If you go to one of their concerts, don’t plan on being the same afterward, and not necessarily because of what you’ve heard, but because of what you’ve felt.