Danish String Quartet
Wednesday 16 Feb 2011
"The new Quartet, all in their early twenties, bring a freshness and energy plus a level of sheer accomplishment that I don’t ever remember hearing in these works."
The Gramophone
"Nielsen’s works are performed with a surprising lightness and transparency."
Flensborg Avis
Programme
String Quartet in G minor Carl August Nielsen (1865 - 1931)Arcadiana Op. 12 Thomas Adès (b1971)
String Quartet No.12 in E flat Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Click to enlargen photos
The Danish String Quartet -
formerly known as the Young Danish String Quartet, made its
debut in the Copenhagen Summer Festival in 2002. In the
course of remarkably short time the quartet drew attention
to itself for its highly committed musicianship and
enthralling style, and the ensemble quickly established
itself as the most promising news in the classical music
world in Denmark. After winning the Danish Radio P2 Chamber
Music Competition in 2004 the quartet's good name was
established in Denmark, and the four young musicians have
since then been frequent guests in Danish festivals, music
societies and international chamber music venues.
The Danish String Quartet has participated in numerous
chamber music competitions with great success. After
winning the P2 competition as the youngest winners ever,
they proceeded to win first Prize in the Vagn Holmboe
String Quartet Competition and the Charles Hennen
International Chamber Music Competition in Holland. The
Danish String Quartet won the first Prize and the Audience
Prize in the Trondheim International String Quartet
Competition in 2005. In March 2009 they won the First Prize
in the Eleventh London International String Quartet
Competition. The Danish String Quartet were also awarded
four other prizes: The 20th Century Prize, the Beethoven
Prize, the Sidney Griller Award and the Menton Festival
Prize.
In 2006 the Danish Radio made the Danish String Quartet
'Artist in Residence' and this led to solo performances
with the DR Symphony Orchestra and the Danish Radio
Sinfonietta playing works by Elgar and O. A. Thommesen. It
also gave the quartet the opportunity to record all Carl
Nielsen's string quartets in the Danish Radio Concert Hall.
The recordings were released on the Dacapo label in 2007
and 2008 and they were hailed by the critics as extremely
successful recordings. The Danish String Quartet's main
teacher and mentor has always been Professor Tim
Frederiksen and in addition the quartet has participated in
masterclasses and received instruction from Tokyo- and
Emerson Quartets, Alasdair Tait, Paul Katz, Hugh Maguire,
Levon Chilingirian, Are Sandbakken, Mats Zetterquist and
Jan-Erik Gustafsson.
The joy of playing, the powerful impact the quartet makes
on stage and the fresh approach to well known repertoire
has become a trademark for the Danish String Quartet. These
qualities have led to success not only in Denmark. The New
York Times’ main critic let himself be carried away by the
quartet's debut concert in New York. After their
performance of Carl Nielsens Quartet no. 4 in F Major, he
wrote 'I cannot imagine a more involved performance' and he
praises all four musicians for their high level performance
and their inviting style.
More
Information
Steven Hough - Official Web
site