Reviving Classical Music with the Quartet Adorno: The Merita Project’s Fresh Approach

Stories | July 19, 2025

The Quartetto Adorno: A Visionary Quartet

The Quartetto Adorno experience began in 2015 in the Stauffer Academy of Cremona. Immediately, forming a bond, the quartet members – Edoardo Zosi (first violin), Benedetta Bucci (viola), Liu Pellicciari (second violin), and Stefano Cerrato (cello) – expanded their studies to the Fiesole Academy, where they deepened their musical artistry. After winning three awards at the Bocciani competition in 2017, their career took off, and they began performing not only in Italy but globally as well.

The quartet’s name “Adorno” pays homage to the philosopher Theodor Wiesengrund Adorno, whose ideas about music and society speak closely to the quartet. According to Zosi, Adorno’s idea of chamber music is one of a utopian society, a society based upon equality and common purpose – values that mirror the quartet’s dynamic approach to performance.

Merita and the Quartetto Adorno: A Shared Mission

The collaboration between Merita and the Quartetto Adorno began thanks to Francesca Moncada, a close friend of the musicians who shared her exciting vision for the project. With enthusiasm and a wealth of ideas, Moncada involved the quartet in Merita’s mission to bring classical quartet music to broader audiences.

As Zosi describes it, Merita’s purpose is to help quartets, but even more importantly, to elevate quartet music itself, often viewed as niche. The project’s inventive approach combines music and words so listeners can enjoy an enhanced listening experience that broadens individuals’ understanding of the compositions.

The Power of Words and Music: An Immersive Experience

For the first time in history, the Adorno Quartet blended words with music during a concert alongside renowned musicologist Sandro Capelletto in Italy. They played Beethoven’s Op. 130, Shostakovich’s No. 8, and the Shostakovich Piano Quintet, incorporating a narrative that deepened the emotional meaning of the music. The idea of blending the art of storytelling and music was so powerful that it became a foundation of their project.

Drawing inspiration from Adorno’s philosophy, the quartet believes that chamber music is the intimate setting where the composers reveal their innermost selves not to the audience, but to themselves for creative fulfillment. According to Zosi, it is this intimacy which creates the powerfulness in quartet music, as it allows for an unfiltered emotional connection between the composers and the performers.

The Special Moment: Beethoven’s Immortal Beloved

A highlight of their project was the emotional reading of Beethoven’s famous “Immortal Beloved” letter, which was recited live during their performance of the Cavatina. This powerful moment not only enhanced the music but also brought the composers’ personal stories to life. It was this combination of music and narrative that allowed the quartet to create a truly unique experience for the audience.

Collaboration and Camaraderie: The Quartet’s Shared Journey
The Quartet members also reflected on the joy of collaborating with other musicians. “Meeting another quartet is like meeting an entire ecosystem,” they say. “You don’t meet four musicians; you meet their personalities, their characters. It’s a unique dynamic that makes the music more special.”

This camaraderie, both offstage and onstage, is the essence of the project. The quartet possesses not only a passion for music but also an over-the-years friendship through food, drink, and conversation, which is the key to the authentic feeling that permeates their performances.

Conclusion: A Bright Future for Quartet Music

The Merita Project, through its innovative approach, is making chamber music come alive and providing an experience for listeners that they will never forget. Through bringing closer together listeners and artists, and through incorporating storytelling along with music, the project ensures that quartet’s music will survive for many generations to come.

Through the European Union’s support and the Quartetto Adorno’s passionate collaboration, Merita is making an indelible mark on classical music’s future in Europe. Through its visionary and interactive approach, the project is transforming music experience and guaranteeing that the extensive heritage of quartet performance is not just modern, but accessible to all.

Tune in to upcoming performances and discover how the Merita Project is redesigning classical music’s future.