The Berlin-based Artemis Quartet was founded in 1989 at the Musikhochschule Lübeck, and is recognised today as one of the foremost quartets in the world. Their mentors include Walter Levin, Alfred Brendel, the Alban Berg Quartet, the Juilliard Quartet and the Emerson Quartet.

Since its successful debut at the Berlin Philharmonie in 1999, the quartet has performed in all the great music centres and at international festivals in Europe, the USA, Japan, South America and Australia. In July 2007, the ensemble welcomed new members Gregor Sigl and Friedemann Weigle; in August 2012, the Latvian violinist Vineta Sareika took up the post of 1st violin. In 2003, the Beethoven-Haus Society awarded the Artemis Quartet an honorary membership in recognition of its interpretations of Beethoven's works. Film director Bruno Monsaingeon created an impressive portrait of the musicians and their performance of Beethoven's Grosse Fuge op. 133 in his 2001 film 'Strings Attached'.

The Artemis Quartet has had an exclusive recording contract with EMI Classics since 2005; they can boast of an extensive discography. Their recordings have been recognized with the prestigious 'Gramophone Award' as well as the 'Diapason d'Or' and the ECHO-Klassik (twice).