On the evening of May 25, as a featured performance of the 6th Beihang Art Festival, the concert by the French string quartet Quatuor Agate was held at Yongman Theater on the Shahe Campus. Over 500 students and faculty immersed themselves in the pure soundscape woven by strings, enjoying a dialogue spanning half a century among three great masters: Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

The repertoire featured three masterpieces spanning the Classical and Romantic eras: String Quartet in D Major, Op. 20 No. 4 by Haydn, String Quartet No. 21, K. 575 by Mozart, and String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132 by Beethoven. The performance took the audience on a spiritual journey from the beauty of formal order to the innermost soul, vividly illustrating the evolution and integration of form and emotion through time. With exquisite passion and impeccable teamwork, the artists masterfully portrayed Haydn's lively wit and vitality, Mozart's lyrical clarity and tender warmth, as well as Beethoven's profound reflection on life in his later years. The delicate, vivid tonal layers, exquisitely crafted phrases and interplay between musical parts immersed the audience in the timeless musical verses. 

During the encore, the female violinist sang the classic Chinese song "The Moon Represents My Heart," bringing the atmosphere to a climax. Accompanied by string melodies, the moment transcended cultural boundaries, resonating as a heartfelt communion of emotions. As the concert ended, thunderous applause echoed throughout the theatre. Some students and faculty lingered after the show to share their thoughts and savor the performance.

"As the four musicians dressed in black stepped onto the stage — Adrien Jurkovic and Juliette Beauchamp on either side, Raphaël Pagnon with viola, and Simon Iachemet seated at the cello — there was a quintessential French elegance. When they played the very first note of Haydn's String Quartet in D Major, Classical music was infused with gentle humanity. The four artists played in perfect unison, their bow movements rising and falling as one," shared Gong Tianyu, a 2021 doctoral student from the School of Energy and Power Engineering. "French romance met the evening breeze of Beihang. It rained lightly in Beijing today, and the night air after the concert carried a blended scent of rosin and peonies. If you ask me what I heard, beyond Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, it was the Quatuor Agate pouring their sincere passion into every note through those great names."

Founded in 2016, Quatuor Agate has earned wide acclaim at numerous international competitions and music festivals. Its accolades include the ECHO Rising Stars, a YCAT (Young Classical Artists Trust) artist, the Best Contemporary Interpretation Prize at Banff International String Quartet Competition, and the only ensemble named among "Rising stars: ten to watch in 2024–25" by BachTrack. The quartet's style combines the luminous tonal quality of French music with the rigorous structural precision of German and Austrian Classical traditions.

Editor: Liu Tingting