Rising star string quartet The Orava Quartet has been signed to Deutsche Grammophon Australia, Universal Music Australia has announced. The quartet – which has impressed audiences at festivals across Australia since returning from a residency with the legendary Takács Quartet in Colorado (and which is featured in the January/February issue of Limelight) – will release a disc of Tchaikovksy, Rachmaninov and Shostakovich on February 9 on the prestigious yellow label.

The Orava Quartet at the 2017 Australian Festival of Chamber Music. Photo © Andrew Rankin

“It’s tremendously humbling and an honour to record on this prestigious label. I have grown up listening to the great Deutsche Grammophon recordings, and without a doubt those recordings have helped shape me into the musician I am today,” said Daniel Kowalik, the Quartet’s first violin. “This is a dream come true for the Quartet; we’re deeply grateful for this opportunity and already looking forward to our next project.”

The Orava Quartet was founded in 2007 and is made up of Daniel Kowalik and David Dalseno on violins, Thomas Chawner on viola and Karol Kowalik on cello. The ensemble’s debut album, which was recorded across three days in June 2017...