Quartetto Italiano was an Italian classical string quartet formed in Reggio Emilia in 1945. The founding members were Paolo Borciani (first violin), Elisa Pegreffi (second violin), Lionello Forzanti (viola), and Franco Rossi (cello). Initially named Nuovo Quartetto Italiano, the ensemble debuted on November 12, 1945, in Carpi. In February 1947, Piero Farulli replaced Forzanti as violist. The group performed at the Salzburg and Edinburgh festivals in 1951 and dropped the “Nuovo” tag the same year. Their discography includes the complete cycle of Beethoven string quartets recorded between 1967 and 1975 for Philips Records. Collaborations included pianist Maurizio Pollini for the recording of the “Piano Quintet Op. 34”. Dino Asciolla replaced Farulli in December 1977. A photograph of the quartet was included on NASA's Golden Record aboard the Voyager space probes in 1977. The group became inactive in 1980. Borciani died in 1985, followed by Asciolla in 1994, Rossi in 2006, Farulli in 2012, and Pegreffi in 2016.
