Winning first prize at the prestigious Concours de Genève propelled the Danish NOVO Quartet onto the fast track to an international career, and the ensemble is now establishing an outstanding reputation in chamber music’s royal discipline. One of the quartet’s greatest strengths lies beyond the music itself: »The secret to our quartet playing is our close friendship – we often take long breaks during rehearsals, and that is invaluable for us on a personal level.«
The quartet’s artistic credo is to remain curious and not yet commit itself to a particular style or period. Their programme at the Elbphilharmonie is correspondingly wide-ranging. Caroline Shaw’s »Entr’acte« draws inspiration from Haydn’s string quartets, while Terry Riley’s »Good Medicine« is an ecstatic dance of minimalism.
With Shostakovich and Beethoven, the NOVO Quartet has chosen two undisputed masters of the string quartet. While Shostakovich’s work is a miniature lasting just 13 minutes, Beethoven’s unfolds across seven movements. A bold experiment that sparked lively debate in its day, it is now recognised by all as a masterpiece.
PERFORMERS
NOVO Quartet string quartet
Kaya Kato Møller violin
Nikolai Vasili Nedergaard violin
Daniel Sledzinski viola
Signe Ebstrup Bitsch violoncello
PROGRAM
Caroline Shaw
Entr’acte
Dmitri Schostakowitsch
String Quartet No. 7 in F-sharp minor, Op. 108
Terry Riley
Good Medicine
- Interval -
Ludwig van Beethoven
String Quartet in C-sharp minor, Op. 131
