Quatuor Elyséen, a French all-female quartet founded in 1967 under the direction of Joseph Calvet, was composed initially of Anne-Claude Villars (violin), Simone Feyrabend (alto), Herre-Jan Stegenga (cello), and Odile Poisson (piano). The ensemble gained recognition after winning the First Prize at the International Chamber Music Competition in Colmar in 1970. Throughout the 1970s, Quatuor Elyséen performed extensively across Europe, America, Scandinavia, and the Middle East, contributing to the revival of lesser-known works such as Furtwängler's quintet and Saint-Saëns' quartet in E major. The group recorded for labels like Da Camera and Arion, releasing notable albums featuring works by Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Brahms. Despite a successful career marked by critical acclaim, including the Diapason d'Or for their Martinu recording in 1979, the quartet ceased activities after their final concert on December 2, 1998.
