The Diogenes Quartett, a string quartet based in Munich, Germany, was founded in 1998 by Stefan Kirpal and Gundula Kirpal on violins, Alba González i Becerra on viola, and Stephen Ristau on cello. The ensemble received significant artistic guidance from members of the Amadeus Quartet and the LaSalle Quartet. Early in their career, they established a broad repertoire through their own concert series Retrospectives at the Munich Gasteig (2000–2008). The Diogenes Quartett gained prominence with complete recordings of Franz Schubert's string quartets and Max Bruch's string quartets, including the rediscovered Streichquartett c-Moll (1852) which they premiered in Frankfurt in 2014. They also released albums featuring works by Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johannes Brahms, George Onslow, Luigi Cherubini, Friedrich Gernsheim, and Max Reger. The quartet was also known for its educational initiatives, including workshops and concerts aimed at children and youth.
