MoreConcerts
The Danish String Quartet returns to Scandinavia House for a series of two intimate concerts, featuring in October 2012 Hugo Wolf’sItalian Serenade, Leoš Janáček’s String Quartet No. 1 “Kreutzer Sonata,” and Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 15 in A minor,
Op. 132 and in January 2013 W.A. Mozart’s String Quartet No. 15 in D minor K. 421/417b, György Liget’s String Quartet No. 1 (Métamorphoses nocturnes), and Carl Nielsen’s String Quartet No. 4 in F major, Op. 44.
About The Danish String Quartet:
The Danish String Quartet — formerly known as the Young Danish String Quartet — made its debut at 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 (Frederik Øland, violin; Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen, violin; Asbjørn Nørgaard, viola; Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin, cello) have since then been frequent guests in Danish festivals, music societies, and international chamber music venues.
The 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 at the Vagn Holmboe String Quartet Competition and the Charles Hennen International Chamber Music Competition in Holland. The quartet won 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 was 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 Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Danish Radio Sinfonietta, playing works by Edward Elgar and O. A. Thommesen. It also gave the quartet the opportunity to record all of 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. Recently, the Danish String Quartet was appointed by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center to the prestigious CMS Two program beginning with the 2013-2014 season.
The Danish String Quartet’s main teacher and mentor has always been Professor Tim Frederiksen. The quartet has also participated in master classes 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’ critic Anthony Tommasini let himself be carried away by the quartet’s debut concert in New York. After their performance of Carl Nielsen’s Quartet No. 4 in F Major, he wrote “I cannot imagine a more involved performance” and praised all four musicians for their high level performance and their inviting style..
1358452800
1358452800
Photo Courtesy of ensemble mise-en
THU – 1-17-2013 – 8:00 PM
$20 ($15 ASF Members)