What better way to forge closer ties than through music. What a big difference it can make to millions if nations followed the same. India and Austria will further strengthen ties and cultural exchange with a splendid performance by the renowned violinist Joji Hattori and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra String Quartet who are all set to delight aficionados of western classical music at a concert on April 3 at 6.15 p.m. at the Dinanath Mangeshkar Auditorium, Kala Academy.

The Austrian Cultural Forum, New Delhi, and the Consulate of Austria in Goa, of which Mr Dattaraj V Salgaocar is the Hon Consul of Austria for Goa, Kerala and Lakshadweep, are jointly organising this classical extravaganza. Special guest at the concert will be Ambassador of Austria, Dr Ferdinand Maultaschl, who will be in Goa to witness the performance.

The String Quartet consists of Joji Hattori - first violin, Lily Francis - second violin, Sergey Malov - viola, and Luis Zorita - cello.

Joji Hattori who was born in Japan and raised in Austria, is one of the leading musicians of his generation and has enjoyed a varied career as a musician, first as a concert violinist, an activity that has developed into directing chamber orchestras, conducting symphony orchestras and finally operas. As guest conductor he regularly works with many distinguished orchestras such as the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra London or the Slovakian Philharmonic.

Lily Francis has established herself as one of the leading violinist/violists today. Recently a top prize winner at the prestigious 2009 ARD Music Competition in Munich, she has performed as soloist with several of the major orchestras in Germany, including the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Munich Chamber Orchestra and the Munich Radio Orchestra.  She made her Weill Recital Hall debut in 2008, and performs regularly throughout Europe and the USA.

Sergey Malov, who is both a distinguished violinist and violist, was born in a family of musicians in St Petersburg but is a true cosmopolitan at heart, speaking fluent Russian, German, English, Spanish, French and Hungarian.  At the age of 14, he won second prize at the International Louis Spohr Violin Competition in Weimar. He was subsequently awarded major prizes at the Paganini Violin Competition in Genova (2006) and at the Gradus ad Parnassum Music Competition in Vienna (2006) and became a finalist at the prestigious ARD Competition in Munich (Viola Section - 2008). In 2009 he won first prize at the International Jascha Heifetz Violin Competition in Vilnius as well as the first prize at the First International Tokio Viola Competition.

Luis Zorita is a regular guest principal at the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. He has an impressive career as a soloist, chamber musician, teacher and as a guest musician in various orchestras. As soloist he has won many international prizes.

As chamber musician, he regularly appears in many international festivals throughout the world and he is a member of the Kreisler String Trio (Vienna) and the Merlin Ensemble.

The String Quartet will play the highly meaningful and melodious compositions of classical greats like Mozart, Haydn, and Schubert and Johann Strauss.

Besides Goa, the String Quartet will perform at Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai. The concert is open to the public.